(HNMO) - On the occasion of the 42nd ASEAN Summit taking place from May 9 to 11, 2023 in Labuan Bajo (Indonesia), on May 7, Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), shared with the press a lot of information about this important event.
- Could you share the meaning and context of the 42nd ASEAN Summit which will take place from May 9 to 11, 2023?
- The 42nd ASEAN Summit will be held in Labuan Bajo, an island located far from the capital Jakarta, with limited development and infrastructure conditions but great tourism potential. It can be said that Indonesia, the Chair of ASEAN 2023, chose this location as the venue for the conference to convey the message of the determination of member countries to join hands to promote economic recovery in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
With the theme “ASEAN Stature: The Heart of Growth”, this conference demonstrates the desire and efforts of countries to strive to make ASEAN the center and driving force of growth with a leading role in the cooperation and linkage processes in the region, contributing to the common goal of peace, stability and prosperity.
Revolving around the above topic and in the face of complex and unpredictable movements, the exchange of leaders will have many contemporary meanings, focusing on discussing emerging and currently concerned issues at both regional and global levels, unifying the direction of behavior and the very practical contributions of ASEAN in finding solutions; thereby, affirming the role, prestige and responsibility of ASEAN in today's context.
- As the Ambassador mentioned about the exchange of leaders, could you please tell us more specifically about the main contents expected to be discussed at the ASEAN Summit?
- According to the conference program developed by host Indonesia, the leaders will have 2 days of intensive work with many activities, including 2 plenary sessions and a small session. On this occasion, the leaders will have dialogue sessions with representatives of parliament, youth, businesses and the High-level Task Force drafting the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025.
Regarding the content of the discussion, according to long-standing practice in ASEAN, the plenary session will be an opportunity for leaders of countries to discuss and give directions to promote the process of building the Community; while at the retreat session, leaders will discuss international and regional issues of common concern.
The new point of this conference is the richness and diversity in the dialogue sessions between leaders and groups and genders on issues of concern in the process of building the Community; including the dialogue session with the High-level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025.
This is the first time that the leaders of the countries have discussed with senior representatives of the drafting group about the future directions of ASEAN in the next stage of development. Therefore, this dialogue session is of great significance, laying the foundation bricks for the future of ASEAN after 2025.
- So, can the Ambassador tell us what documents are expected to be approved at the conference?
- This Summit is expected to adopt many important documents spanning all three pillars of politics - security, economy, and culture - society of the ASEAN Community.
The content of the documents is very rich, covering many economic, financial, development and social fields, promoting cooperation according to major trends as well as being closely linked to current issues of concern.
Among them, we can mention a number of Declarations of ASEAN leaders on electric vehicle ecosystem, village network, increasing transactions in local currency... These documents closely follow the priorities set by the ASEAN Chair in 2023 on financial stability and energy security.
It can be said that these are very practical contents, effectively supporting efforts to promote recovery and growth in the region, contributing to making ASEAN truly become a central force in the overall development process of the whole region, in line with the spirit of this year's theme "A Great ASEAN: The Heart of Growth".
- Ambassador, please tell us what contributions Vietnam is expected to make to ASEAN's common activities at this conference?
- As we know, 2023 is a pivotal year for implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, so it requires synchronous, rapid and drastic efforts at all levels, sectors and fields; in which, it is impossible not to mention the contribution on the foreign affairs front in general and multilateral foreign affairs activities in particular. As an organization of strategic importance, closely related to Vietnam's security interests, position and development, ASEAN is an inseparable part of Vietnam's foreign policy.
Implementing the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, the Vietnamese delegation will participate in the 42nd ASEAN Summit in a proactive, positive, responsible, and creative spirit, contributing to the overall success of the conference.
The message we will bring to this conference is to strengthen solidarity, self-reliance, enhance ASEAN's capacity to respond and adapt flexibly to changes, and further promote ASEAN's role, voice and responsibility when participating in common regional and global affairs.
- Thank you very much, Ambassador!
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