Labuan Bajo (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh highlighted three core factors to ASEAN’s characteristics, values, vitality and reputation, which are maintaining independence and strategy self-reliance, turning itselfinto a growth epicenter and better adapting to external shocks in his remarks at the opening session of the 42ndASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 10 morning.

The Vietnamese leader emphasised that strengthening solidarityand unity should be the key task for an independent, self-resilient ASEAN. 
        
Given risks and uncertainties of the global economy,Chinh stressed the urgent need for the ten-member grouping to expand the intramarket in order to promote recovery and sustainable development.

He called for efforts in negotiations to advance theASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, and concertedly and drastically rolling outprojects on regional connectivity in terms of institutions,infrastructure and people, thus creating quality changes in the investment,business and tourism environment.

Chinh also suggested ASEAN step up cooperation indigital economy, digital government and circular economy in tandem withelectricity connectivity and renewable energy development, soon set forthlong-term strategies on high-quality personnel training, and approve MutualRecognition Arrangements in some sectors and consider their application in newones.

With the spirit of taking people as the growthcentre, target and momentum in ASEAN Community building, the bloc should workto narrow its development gap, especially in remote areas and sub-regions, hecontinued.

Moreover, sub-regional cooperation needs to go inparallel with ASEAN cooperation programmes in all spheres to ensure betterlives for residents, the PM said.

To achieve the goal of and aspirations for peace,security, stability and prosperity, he appealed to ASEAN member countries tojoin hands in building self-resilience and solidarity, unlock developmentresources, and raise breakthrough initiatives to build the ASEAN Community,helping the bloc turn itself into a growth epicentre regionally and globally.

In his opening speech, Indonesian President JokoWidodo also stressed that with its unity, ASEAN would be able to play a centralrole in bringing peace and economic growth ASEAN matters.

“At the moment, the global economy has notfully recovered. Major power rivalries continue to sharpen. The global dynamicbecomes more unpredictable,” he pointed out.

Given this,he raised the question of whether ASEAN will be capable to be the engine forpeace and economic growth.

 “I amconfident that we are certain ASEAN is capable. As long as we hold the keyelement: ASEAN unity,” he stressed.

 ASEAN possessmajor assets as the epicentrum of growth. An economy that grows far aboveaverage global economic growth, demographic bonus, and a maintained regionalstability, the President went on.

He said ASEANmust increase efforts to strengthen economic integration, reinforce inclusivecooperation, including through the implementation of the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP), and strengthen regional health architecture, foodsecurity, energy resilience, and financial stability.

 The Summit,which takes place from May 9-11, features plenary sessions and retreats, alongwith dialogues between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of theASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council(ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision./.