At the events, the Vietnamese delegation will continue making positive contributions to strengthening ASEAN connectivity and improving the bloc’s operation, while fostering intra-blocsolidarity and unity, and enhancing the central role of the association amidst complicated developments in the region and the world.

Along with boosting cooperation in narrowing development gaps to benefit ASEAN residents, Vietnam’s participation in the event is also a chance for the country to bolsters its friendship and partnership with other ASEAN member states as well as the bloc’s dialogue partners, thus expanding itsregional and international integration.

During the summit,themed “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” ASEAN leaders will review the situation and orientations for the building of the ASEAN Community, while discussing measures to enhance the central role of the association and its relations with partners as well as regional and international issues of shared concern.

As ASEAN is celebrating the 50thfounding anniversary and the second year of the ASEAN Community, at the event, the leaders will focus on seeking measures to effectively implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 as well as action plans to strengthen intra-bloc connection, solidarity and unity and ASEAN’s central role.

So far, the community has made positive progress in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and blueprints in all the three pillars.

As many as 218 out of 290of activities (75 percent) in politics-security are underway at different levels, while 532 out of 611 (87 percent) of economic measures included in the roadmap for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 building have been implemented, and the AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan has also been commenced.

ASEAN is also actively specifying the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community’s blueprint with 109 actions. 

In order to support the building of the ASEAN Community, the grouping has also stepped up efforts to strengthen connectivity and narrow development gaps, andlaunched the third phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration with five priorities of food and industry; trade facilitation; macro, small and medium-sized enterprises; education; health care and welfare.

Along with enhancing its operational efficiency, the association will beef up ties with partners such as China, the US, India, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Canada and the UN, while designing joint action programmes with the remaining dialogue partners of Japan, Australia, Russia and the EU.This year, ASEAN will organise a summit commemorating 40 years of ties with the US, the EU and Canada.

ASEAN has also committed to maintaining and fostering peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, as well as setting disputes through peaceful measures, with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes in line with widely-recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In fact, ASEAN has showed its role and responsibility in building a favourable environment for peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea through promoting the full, strict and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and collaborating with China to soon finalise a Code of Conduct in the waters (COC).

VNA