Manila (VNA)– The 30th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) opened in Manila, the Philippines on April 29 with the attendance ofleaders of 10 ASEAN member nations.

Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, the first summit in theyear the Philippines holds the chair of the grouping.

In his openingremarks, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted the significance ofthis year - a milestone year for ASEAN as the bloc marks its 50th anniversary of establishment.

Duterte underlined thecore priorities of the Philippines’ chairmanship, which are building apeople-oriented and people-centred ASEAN, maintaining a peaceful and stableregion, cooperating in maritime security and advancing inclusive and innovative-led growth, promoting ASEAN’sresiliency, and promoting ASEAN as a model for regionalism and as a globalplayer.

He then chaired the summit plenary that focused its discussion on how tostrengthen ASEAN connectivity and effectively implement the ASEAN CommunityVision 2025 and the master plans for the ASEAN Community pillars.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc voiced supportfor the priorities for cooperation initiated by the Philippines as this year’schair, saying they are practical, reflecting the need for connectivity withinthe bloc and promoting ASEAN as a global player.

Phuc hailed the progress in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025and said the grouping should give priority to building a people-oriented andpeople-centred ASEAN, enhancing the effectiveness of ASEAN operations andpromoting intra-group cooperation and regional connectivity.

He underlined that to win support of people across the region inbuilding the ASEAN Community, the bloc needs to pay more attention topeople-connected projects, provide more cross-border career opportunities and promotecultural exchanges and tourism, so that the people can benefit more from theASEAN integration process.

Phuc noted  the fact that therehas been a rapid growth in trade between ASEAN and its partners but tradewithin ASEAN has barely budged over the past few years. Therefore, it isnecessary to accelerate intra-bloc cooperation in order to take full advantagesof a 620-million-people market, he added.

The Vietnamese government leader urged the quick finalization of anaction plan for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development strategyfor 2016-2025, as SMEs accounted for over 90 percent of the number of firms inSoutheast Asia. More resources should be allocated for startups and innovativeprojects together with support for them to access funding and markets, henoted.

Vietnam will partner with Thailand to take a leading role in improvingproductivity and promoting technology, creativity and innovation.

ASEAN leaders later attended the ASEAN Summit’s retreat and dialogueswith the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and ASEAN Youth.-VNA