Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the opening session of the 37th ASEAN Summit (Photo: VNA)

The Government leader was speaking at the official release of the mid-term review of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 Blueprints and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and the launch of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, held virtual within the framework of the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

He said joint efforts of ASEAN member countries have helped the region overcome difficulties and challenges, towards long-term peace, stability, development and prosperity.

On this occasion, he thanked other ASEAN countries and international partners for their support and cooperation with Vietnam to gain these achievements.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, from November 12-15, will feature 20 activities at the highest level, including the 37th ASEAN Summit; ASEAN 1 Summits with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US, the UN, and Australia; the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS); and the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); among others.

During the summits with partners, leaders will focus on building the ASEAN Community, maintaining intra-bloc cooperation momentum, expanding and deepening relations between ASEAN and partners, promoting the grouping’s centrality, raising its international position, ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control, and discussing regional and international issues of shared concern.

More than 80 documents, including proposals by Vietnam, are set to be approved on this occasion, marking the highest number to date.

Vietnam is expected to symbolically hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship to Brunei at the closing ceremony on November 15.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN releases Mid-term Review of Community Vision 2025 Blueprints

The Mid-term Review of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 Blueprints and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework were released on Thursday morning as part of the ongoing 37th ASEAN Summit and related Summits. 

On the occasion, the regional leaders also launched the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the joint efforts of the ASEAN member countries have helped the region overcome difficulties and challenges, towards long-term peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The bloc’s success was grounded in its solidarity, the Vietnamese Government chief emphasized.

He took the occasion to express thanks to other ASEAN countries and international partners for their support and cooperation with Viet Nam to gain these achievements.

In last April, leaders from ASEAN nations, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their strong commitment and resolve to prevent and eliminate risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that have threatened socio-economic stability in their countries.

Since the beginning of the year, a series of high-level meetings have been organized virtually by the regional leaders to push for initiatives, including those on establishment of ASEAN reserve of medical supplies and health expert network./.VGP/VNA