Promote self-strength, affirm strategic value

Leaders of ASEAN countries, ASEAN Secretary General, leaders of ASEAN partners and many representatives of international organizations... gathered at the "ASEAN festival" - the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related conferences in Jakarta, Indonesia (September 4-7), bringing the ASEAN 2023 journey to its destination.

Phát huy sức mạnh tự thân, khẳng định giá trị chiến lược

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center on September 5. (Photo: Anh Son)

The 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits are a series of important high-level activities concluding Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2023 with the theme "A Great ASEAN: The Heart of Growth".

Unity does not mean the absence of differences

The message of ASEAN solidarity was once again emphasized by ASEAN leaders in their high-level exchanges. Solidarity is not only a sacred command but also a precious value that all family members cherish and preserve - as affirmed by the host country's President Joko Widodo at the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit. Solidarity has brought about a strong common home where all member countries share pride, love and care.

“Explaining” ASEAN solidarity, President Joko Widodo said that solidarity here does not mean the absence of differences. In a region with diverse cultures, traditions, histories and languages, solidarity is the harmony of differences, including in viewpoints. It is the respect for diversity that nurtures democratic values, ensuring equality among family members, and ASEAN – unity in diversity – is probably because of that.

The spirit of ASEAN solidarity, always moving forward strongly, together bringing ASEAN's stature to increasingly grow to become the center of growth in the region and the world, is the common and highest consensus of ASEAN leaders within the framework of the Summit.

Solidarity not only gives ASEAN a sustainable and self-reliant home, but that invaluable internal strength also gives ASEAN an immense strength, overcoming all the hardships of the times and the complex international life.

ASEAN leaders believe that, in the face of profound changes in the world and regional situation, solidarity is a strategic value for ASEAN to continue to overcome challenges, stand firm in the face of strategic friction and geopolitical competition, affirm its central role in the regional structure; and is the foundation for strengthening ASEAN's role in orienting and leading dialogue and cooperation efforts for peace, stability and development in the region. ASEAN is determined not to turn the region into a place of power friction, but a place to nurture cooperation and dialogue for peace and prosperity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit on September 5. (Photo: Anh Son)

Expressing his views on this spirit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that ASEAN needs to determine that ensuring peace, security, and stability in the region is first and foremost the responsibility and effort of ASEAN itself. To do so, ASEAN member countries must uphold the spirit of solidarity, independence, self-reliance, and self-reliance; and this spirit must be demonstrated in both words and actions. Only then can ASEAN's role be truly promoted and receive practical respect from partners, especially major countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that ASEAN needs to make efforts to strengthen solidarity, maintain and consolidate a common stance on the East Sea. This is both a benefit and a shared responsibility of all member countries. Regarding the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Minister expressed support for more proactive contacts to encourage parties to engage in peaceful dialogue, build trust, enhance common understanding, and soon reach a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Myanmar issue.

Realizing the heart of growth

The venue for the leaders attending the Summit was designed to resemble the Kalimantan forest (one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth) with a view of the capital Jakarta. Perhaps, it is a message of a green, sustainable future!

The theme of ASEAN 2023 is “ASEAN in stature: The heart of growth”, ASEAN has been doing its best to realize the goal of going out to the sea, opening up to the world. ASEAN is making strong shifts towards digitalization and sustainable development, enhancing the region’s competitiveness and consolidating its role as an important link in the global value chain.

Within the framework of the Conference, ASEAN leaders said that to realize the core of growth, ASEAN needs to promote economic restructuring reforms, remove trade and investment barriers, focus on investing in human development through education, health care, equitable development, and promote sustainable growth.

The trends of the times require ASEAN to innovate in thinking, be creative in action, and be innovative in ideas in order to make the most of new economic growth drivers such as the digital economy, blue economy, green transformation, and sustainable development.

In that spirit, ASEAN leaders discussed and acknowledged the “ASEAN Community Vision 2045” with consistent orientations to build a “Resilient, Dynamic, Innovative” and people-centered ASEAN, establishing a strategic framework for stronger development and breakthroughs of ASEAN in the next 20 years.

Providing specific directions to maintain “ASEAN stature” and be the “center of growth”, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to enhance ASEAN’s self-reliance through promoting economic connectivity, expanding the intra-bloc market, and facilitating trade and investment flows.

Accordingly, the head of the Vietnamese Government requested ASEAN countries to urgently remove bottlenecks and barriers in policies and institutions, maintain stability in the intra-bloc supply chain, and enhance the region's resilience to external impacts and challenges.

Aiming for an ASEAN with even and sustainable development, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the core spirit of ASEAN with “people as the center, goal and driving force of the Community building process” to continue narrowing the development gap within ASEAN, especially in remote and sub-regional areas.

Leaders attending the 26th ASEAN+3 Summit on September 6. (Photo: Anh Son)

Maintaining a central role in the region

The ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS) Summits... taking place within the framework of this ASEAN Summit continue to demonstrate that ASEAN is the center of important regional cooperation mechanisms, ASEAN's central role is respected and ASEAN's voice is heard.

At the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed his support for ASEAN solidarity and centrality as well as ASEAN's Indo-Pacific Vision, pledging to continue to actively participate in and effectively contribute to ASEAN-led mechanisms. ASEAN's central role was also highly appreciated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol within the framework of the ASEAN-China Summit and the ASEAN-Korea Summit or the ASEAN+3 Summit.

All partners affirmed that they consider ASEAN as the central force in the region, committed to supporting the building of the Community, contributing responsibly and effectively to dialogue and cooperation and efforts to build an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure based on international law.

Clearly, ASEAN with its growing voice and position is demonstrating its appeal and value to partners who are committed to cooperating to promote a peaceful and prosperous region with ASEAN-led mechanisms.

In the midst of competition, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized, ASEAN needs to maintain strategic balance with major countries. ASEAN must truly become a reliable bridge with the capacity to harmonize and balance relationships and interests, firmly pursuing the goal of building an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure and most importantly, unifying its principled stance on issues directly related to the security and development environment of the region.

In conclusion, as the President of Indonesia has said, in the vast ocean, the “ASEAN boat” cannot go alone. The ASEAN boat will continue to reach new goals with a steadfast spirit and determination not to give up. In each of these journeys, ASEAN wishes to cooperate for mutual benefit with all countries, affirming its role as the center of growth.

Within the framework of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had many bilateral meetings with leaders of partner countries and international organizations such as meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, having a working breakfast with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol; US Vice President Kamala Harris, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao...; meeting with President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab; receiving Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva; meeting with Indonesian businesses...

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