According to the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister, ASEAN leaders will discuss how to adapt safely, flexibly and control the COVID-19 pandemic; while ensuring the gradual restoration of socio-economic activities under new normal conditions.
At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the progress of the implementation of plans to build the ASEAN Community and ASEAN cooperation activities in the new normal, such as institutional reform, promotion of advantages of the results of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, digital transformation, and coordination to handle non-traditional security issues.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
The leaders will also discuss the relationship between ASEAN and its partners, especially the relationship between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, maintaining ASEAN's central role in regional issues; while discussing ASEAN's stance and views of point on developments happening in the region that affect the overall situation of the region, and discussing current hot spots such as Myanmar and East Sea and Korean Peninsula issues.
Noting Vietnam’s role in preparation for the Summits, Deputy Minister Dung said that Vietnam - ASEAN Chair in 2020, has put forth many proposals and initiatives and needs to coordinate with Brunei, the ASEAN Chair in 2021, and other ASEAN members, to continue to maintain and promote the momentum of implementation.
Vietnam has actively coordinated with other countries in the process of preparing, drafting and negotiating some 100 documents to be submitted to the senior leaders during the Summits.
“Throughout this year, many problems have arisen, and Vietnam has played a very active and proactive role, contributing to ASEAN countries overcoming difficulties and obstacles,” he said. “For example, in Myanmar, we have coordinated with other countries to actively promote the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of ASEAN leaders and sent a Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chairman on this issue.”
Talking about the results of COVID-19 prevention and economic recovery initiatives, Deputy Minister Dung said that there were many COVID-19 prevention efforts proposed last year and actively implemented such as experience sharing, mutual support, the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, regional medical supplies, and the ASEAN Overall Recovery Framework.
As a result, ASEAN countries have closely coordinated and supported each other in responding to COVID-19, supporting each other's citizens' protection, facilitating repatriation, and providing vaccination support for each other's citizens, ensuring the circulation of goods, especially essential goods, and ensuring the smooth operation of the supply chain.
Assessing Vietnam’s recent initiatives in ASEAN, Deputy Minister Dung went on to say that Vietnam had put forth initiatives in COVID-19 prevention, building the ASEAN Community, the foundation of ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, regional medical supplies, and the ASEAN Overall Recovery Framework.
“It also contributed to the Community building effort, including developing the ASEAN Post-2025 Vision, reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, narrowing the development gap as well as sustainable development in the sub-regions, promoting sub-regional cooperation linked to the common cooperation process of ASEAN joint cooperation,” he said. “All of these initiatives are being implemented well.”