PM attends ASEAN Summit’s retreat, concludes working trip
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, together with leaders of other ASEAN member states, discussed regional and global issues, at a retreat session of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 11.
Jakarta (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, together withleaders of other ASEAN member states, discussed regional and global issues, at aretreat session of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 11.
He said that after more than half a century of formationand development, ASEAN has never been in such a good position as well as facingas many challenges as it does today. ASEAN is both the centre of a series ofregional connectivity and integration initiatives and a key player in thefierce strategic competition among major powers.
The PM stressedthat ASEAN needs to be dynamically adaptive and strengthen itsself-reliance to assert its strategic value. ASEAN also needs to consolidate unityand solidarity, elevate the spirit of independence and self-reliance whilestrongly upholding its central role, maintaining a balanced strategicrelationship with partners, establish and promote a culture of dialogue,cooperation, consultation and trust building.
ASEAN needs to maintain its principled stanceon issues directly related to environment, security and development, as statedin foundational documents such as the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity andCooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific(AOIP), especially by raising the banner of upholding international law, hesaid.
On regional and global issues, PM Chinh sharedhis views on the increasingly intense strategic competition among major powers,affirming that it is of utmost importance that ASEAN member countries stay united,uphold a sense of responsibility and collective spirit towards common goals,and harmonise national interests with those of the bloc.
Reiterating ASEAN's principled stance onregional and global issues of shared concern, he highlighted the protection ofpeace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in theEast Sea as they are both a shared interest and responsibility of all countries.
Hesuggested that ASEAN, despite difficulties, should persist with thegoal of supporting Myanmar to fully implement the Five-PointConsensus for the sake of the Myanmar people, ASEAN unity, reputation andimages, as well as the expectations of the global community. He said ASEANshould back Indonesia's Chairmanship and Special Envoy that play a pioneeringrole in leading ASEAN to achieve this goal.
ꦯ ASEAN needs to maintain an objective,balanced, and responsible approach to the Russia-Ukraine issue, coordinate workwith partners, mitigate the impact of conflicts on the region, and contribute topeace, stability, cooperation and development, he said.
At the event (Photo: VNA)
Leaders at the event reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance, emphasised the importance of peace, security, and stability in the East Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and striving to achieve a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) that is consistent with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also expressed support for ASEAN's role in assisting Myanmar and promoting the effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus while sharing concerns over the implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and stressing the need to adhere to the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The session concluded the activities of the42nd ASEAN Summit. Following the event, PM Chinh and his entourage leftLabuan Bajo for Vietnam, successfully concluding their working trip toIndonesia./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of other ASEAN countries on May 10 engaged in dialogues with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the youth, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision.
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia - Chair of ASEAN 2023 on May 10 affirmed that collaboration, cooperation, and synergy are important in the relations between the government and the business community.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his call for the establishment of an Asian Monetary Fund in line with ASEAN’s initiative to enhance the region’s economic independence and safety net.
The 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on strengthening regional capacity and institutional effectiveness on May 10.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
PM Pham Minh Chinh at the event (Photo: VNA) 
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
