Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM, Do Hung Viet

Reporter:Could the Deputy Minister please explain the purpose, significance, and importance of this working trip?

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet:From October 8-11, 2024, the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, encompassing over 20 activities, will take place in Vientiane, Laos. This is the most important series of high-level activities for ASEAN this year, with the participation of leaders from ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste, and 10 ASEAN partners, along with many guests representing international and regional organizations.

With the theme “ASEAN: Promoting Connectivity and ResilienceThe leaders' exchange will focus on strategic issues relevant to ASEAN and the region, promoting dialogue, deeper cooperation, close ties, seizing opportunities, and overcoming challenges. This is particularly important in the context of an increasingly complex international and regional situation. The emergence of numerous challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and other extreme weather events is a problem that all countries need to work together to find effective solutions.

With a readiness to contribute and strive wholeheartedly for common success, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, will attend these conferences, conveying many important messages about ASEAN and its future.

First,ASEAN cooperation orientationIn response to rapidly emerging trends, ASEAN has proactively taken early steps to capitalize on these new growth drivers. Several frameworks are being actively negotiated, such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework, the ASEAN Power Grid Framework, and supply chain connectivity cooperation. The crucial task now is to implement them concretely, maximizing the potential and opportunities these frameworks offer. Accordingly, promoting cooperation in promising areas aligned with green, digital, and sustainable trends will be a top priority at ASEAN meetings and between ASEAN and its partners.

Secondly,Shaping the future of ASEAN.2024 marks a turning point for ASEAN, completing the 2025 Master Plans and preparing for a new phase of development until 2045. In the face of the rapid, powerful, and far-reaching changes of the times, ASEAN's new development strategies are expected to elevate regional cooperation and integration towards innovation, creativity, and action.That is innovation.With a fresh and more perceptive mindset and approach, we can seize opportunities effectively and proactively respond to any changes.That's creative.Be bold and innovative, playing a leading and pioneering role in regional cooperation processes.That is the action,Turn commitments into concrete actions. To fulfill the aspirations and bring practical benefits to the people, businesses, and localities.

Third,Defining ASEAN's role.Taking place two weeks after the United Nations Future Summit, these conferences will contribute to affirming and further spreading the irreplaceable value and importance of multilateralism in the current context. With the success of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 held in Vietnam, we have played a bridging role, conveying the Forum's recommendations and proposals to the United Nations Future Summit, contributing to aligning common regional priorities and concerns with global ones. With the achievements gained over nearly six decades, ASEAN has the capacity and ability to participate and contribute more deeply and effectively to global issues.

Reporter: Could the Deputy Minister please tell us what contributions Vietnam has made to ASEAN cooperation in the past and how it has supported Laos, the current Chair, in preparing for this Summit?

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet:Nearly three decades after joining ASEAN, Vietnam has affirmed its role as a responsible member, with its voice and influence increasingly valued. Adhering closely to the Party's foreign policy, we continue to participate in ASEAN with a spirit of readiness to contribute more and more proactively to common endeavors. We closely coordinate with, support, and assist the Lao Chair in successfully fulfilling his important responsibilities, contributing to fostering the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Our participation and contributions to ASEAN over the past period can be summarized in the following words:Proactively implement, genuinely participate, and contribute wholeheartedly.

First,Effectively implementing the priorities proposed by the Lao Chair is crucial. It can be said that the nine priority areas identified by the Lao Chair for 2024 are very much in line with the current common concerns of ASEAN and the region, ranging from developing strategies for the new phase, strengthening ASEAN's central role, connecting economies, environmental cooperation, and cultural cooperation… In contacts and exchanges at all levels, our leaders have consistently affirmed their support for and commitment to successfully promoting the set priorities. In particular, the participation and speech of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 3rd ASEAN Women Leaders Summit, a landmark event during our Chair year, was highly appreciated and valued by our counterparts.

Secondly,Together with other countries, we are striving to complete the ASEAN Community Master Plan 2025 and develop cooperation strategies up to 2045. In this process, we not only fulfill our responsibilities as members but also proactively offer many ideas and proposals for regional cooperation and integration. The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 is a clear example of our contribution in this direction, creating a truly open, inclusive, and ASEAN-led forum. Soon, we will hold a regional consultation on the review of the ASEAN Community Master Plan 2025 and the ASEAN 2045 orientation, with the hope of working with other countries to review, evaluate, and draw lessons and best practices for the next phase.

Third,Together with other countries, we are strengthening ASEAN's solidarity and unity in the current rapidly changing and complex context. In the spirit of constructive dialogue and goodwill, we have successfully played the role of a bridge, harmonizing differences and concerns among countries, contributing to building and consolidating ASEAN consensus on many important issues, thereby contributing to overall success. This is also our policy and approach in participating in these ASEAN Summits. We are confident that, under the leadership of the Lao Chair, the Summits will be successful, further affirming ASEAN's stature in the region and the world, and moving towards a more connected and resilient ASEAN Community.

Reporter:Thank you, Mr. Deputy Minister.

Source: dangcongsan.vn