Jakarta (VNA) - The upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Jakarta on September 5-7 will offer a venue for leaders of ASEAN membernations and those from partner countries of the bloc to discuss ways to addressdifficulties and challenges facing the region and the world, said ASEAN Secretary-GeneralKao Kim Hourn.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Kao Kim Hourn said the events will continue to drive the ASEANCommunity-building process along its three pillars of politics and security, economics,and socio-culture toward a region of peace, stability, and prosperity, withpeople at the centre.

Withinthe realm of politics and security, participants will focus their discussion onthe Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), the Southeast Asia NuclearWeapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty, the ASEAN Maritime Outlook, transnationalcrime and human trafficking prevention, as well as the implementation of the 5-point consensus to supportstability in Myanmar.

Regardingthe socio-cultural pillar, delegates will discuss various issues, including women'sempowerment and climate change, which are topics of regional interest, he added.

ASEANleaders will consider ways to speed up the digital economy, investment, andtrade, and to facilitate intra-bloc trade activities, and between the group and its partner countries by upgrading a number of free trade agreements andimplementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement,toward ensuring prosperous development in Southeast Asia.

The first challenge that ASEAN faces is how to keep theregional economy moving and maintain growth, Kao Kim Hourn said, emphasising the need for ASEAN to ensurethat the region remains open for business activities, continues to attractforeign direct investment, and truly becomes the epicenter of global economicgrowth.

ASEAN should also pay attention to solving the issues of climate change,and food and energy security, he went on./.