Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of ASEAN and partnersattended the online opening ceremony of the 36th ASEAN Summit on June 26.

Following is the full text of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's opening speech.

Your Majesty,
Dear Colleagues,
Mdm. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan,President of AIPA 41,
Ladiesand Gentlemen:  

It is my great pleasure to warmly welcome the leaders of ASEAN and all of you tothe Opening Ceremony of the 36th ASEAN Summit.

1. For the first time in more than half a century, our ASEAN Summit has been heldvirtually. The recent 73rd World Health Assembly and various other majorinternational meetings were also held on the cyber-networks that link our world.This reflects the reality that the ways we conduct our work must now change,due to not only the advances of science and technology, but also theunprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out and quickly became widespread from thebeginning of this year, has swept away the achievements that humankind hadaccumulated for years, deprived and threatened the lives of millions. A WorldBank report on 8 June projected that the global economy would experience aserious decline with a 5.2 percent contraction in global GDP. Per-capita incomewould drop by 3.6 percent. Seventy to a hundred million people would fall intoextreme poverty, and the risk of social instability would mount. More than 40percent of all manufacturing industries and business sectors across countriesare being directly affected by lockdown and restrictions imposed for diseasecontrol.

The pandemic is fanning the flames of dormant challenges within the political,economic and social environment of the world and in each region. International institutionsand international law are being seriously challenged. Strategic friction amongthe major powers are exposing themselves and escalating. While the entire worldis stretched thin in the fight against the pandemic, irresponsible acts andacts in violation of international law are still taking place, affecting theenvironment of security and stability in certain regions, including in ourregion.

The strong advances of science and technology and the digital transformationtaking place around the globe present both opportunities and challenges tocountries, especially the developing ones. Social conflicts stemming fromsocial disparities, discrimination and stigma have deteriorated due to thepandemic, further widening the divide within countries.

In such context, countries need to uphold the spirit of solidarity, cooperationand the sense of responsibility towards the international community. The roleand mission of major countries, and of multilateral and regional organizationshave become more prominent than ever.

2. ASEAN is pursuing the theme of Cohesive and Responsive amidst volatilitiesin the regional and global landscape. 5 years since the establishment of theCommunity, we are now standing before the opportunities and challengesgenerated by the global geo-strategic shift and the impacts of COVID-19. Againstthat backdrop, our ASEAN Community has well displayed its mettle. Our unity hasgiven us the strength to effectively harness the opportunities and rise abovethose challenges.

In the early months of this year, COVID-19 has taken heavy toll on the economyand society of ASEAN member states. It pains us to witness the suffering oftens of thousands of families whose loved ones passed away due to the disease.We empathize with the damage and difficulties endured by hundreds of thousandsof disrupted businesses and millions of workers deprived of their livelihood,particularly those in the tourism and service sectors. Yet we shall not falter!

ASEAN has taken timely actions as a responsiveand cohesive Community. ASEAN’s health emergencies response network andcooperation with partners were activated from the very first days. ASEANcountries have engaged in active information and experience sharing, and coordinationin disease control. Thanks to the highest of political commitment and acohesive and comprehensive approach at the national and regional level, ASEANas a whole, has embodied the fortitude of a united and cohesive group, full of sharingand caring.

Let me thank you, ASEAN leaders and ASEAN partners, who have joined their handswith Viet Nam – the ASEAN chair – in the collective response against thepandemic, especially the strong commitments you have pledged at the Special ASEANand APT Summits on COVID-19 in April.

Despite the complex developments of the pandemic, the ASEAN members haveessentially kept the situation under control. Compared to the global average,we are enjoying a high proportion of recoveries over total confirmed cases.Fatalities are low and the rate of fatality is dropping. For many days now, inseveral ASEAN countries, there has been no new case of community transmission. Whileslower growth rates are projected for this year, ASEAN economies are expected tosustain stability.

3. In the latter half of 2020, the heavy burden rested upon the governments of ASEANmembers and upon us as the leaders is to lead ASEAN out of this period ofadversity. The successful completion of this task will stand as a testament tothe lasting values and vitality of our Resilient and Dynamic Community. 

I expect that the 36th ASEAN Summit will be an occasion for ASEAN member statesto reassert our spirit of solidarity, our strong political will and commitment torise above the adversities of the pandemic and keep forging ahead. On the onehand, we need to maintain good control over the COVID-19 pandemic. On theother, we should promptly repair its damage, and revitalize our economy and resumeour economic development. This should be coupled with efforts to realize theset targets for ASEAN cooperation and integration of this year.

At this Summit, we will discuss a comprehensive post-pandemic recovery plan forASEAN, and hasten the implementation of new initiatives, including the creationof the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, the building of an ASEAN Regional Reserveof Medical Supplies, and the establishment of an ASEAN Standard OperatingProcedure (SOP) for Public Health Emergencies.

We will conduct the mid-term review of the implementation of the Blueprints underthe ASEAN Community Vision 2025, provide feedbacks on a post-2025 ASEANCommunity Vision, and improve the efficiency of ASEAN work by evaluating the enforcementof the ASEAN Charter.

ASEAN will also actively engage the various sectors and stakeholders in societyin the process of building a People-Oriented and People-Centered Community.

Today, we will have the first-ever Special Session on Women's Empowerment inthe Digital Age. This is a strong message as to ASEAN's commitment to promotinggender equality and enhancing women's role and contribution in social life. Thesession is also a concrete way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of theBeijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Gender Equality. We will alsohave useful interfaces with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Youthrepresentatives, and the businesses of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC)on this occasion.

The efforts to strengthen connectivity and promote equitable and sustainable developmentof ASEAN these past years will continue to be bolstered during this year. Suchinitiatives as the ASEAN Smart Cities’ Network and Connecting theConnectivities need to proceed effectively and extensively. In addition, weshould also pay due attention to enhancing the complementarities betweensub-regional cooperation, including the Mekong sub-region, and ASEAN agenda, interms of the sustainable management and use of water resources.

As an open community and a partner for sustainable peace and development of theinternational community, ASEAN will tirelessly seek to expand and deepen itsequal and mutually beneficial cooperation with our partners. ASEAN is advancingties with the United Nations in 2020 – when both Indonesia and Viet Nam arenon-permanent members of the UNSC and are actively contributing to the UN’s effortsto maintain peace, security and development. We are strongly committed to economicliberalisation and integration, and are determined to quickly conclude theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

To uphold ASEAN’s centrality in the region, we have been improving ourmechanisms for dialogue, cooperating to build trust, and reinforcing an open,transparent and rules-based order. At the same time, ASEAN will continue topromote and uphold rules and norms of conduct, advance the relations amongcountries in the region in accordance with the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation(TAC). ASEAN observes and promotes the full and strict compliance to theDeclaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and is makingevery effort to establish an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in line withinternational law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS).

Excellencies,
Ladies andgentlemen,  

4. The common denominator of shared interest, which hasbrought the ASEAN members together over the last five decades, has multipliedin the wake of adversity and challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic is a test ofASEAN's mettle as a maturing community.

I am deeply confident that after every storm and typhoon, the stalks of padirice on the logo of ASEAN will grow tighter-knit, and from it more grains ofrice will spring forth, filled with the love, care and solidarity that define ourbig ASEAN family.

At this Summit, I look forward to the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders' VisionStatement on a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN: Rising above Challenges and SustainingGrowth. This shall be the compass for ASEAN to move ever confidently forward.

In this spirit, I declare the 36th ASEAN Summit open.

Thank you, ladies andgentlemen. I wish you good health and many successes./.