Inclusivity and Sustainability – strategic choice for ASEAN in volatile world

Pham made the above remarks at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 26.

From that perspective, the Vietnamese Prime Minister urged ASEAN to continue reinforce solidarity and unity, and implement strategic plans and lines of actions in a comprehensive and effective manner.

ASEAN needs to promote its dynamic vitality, autonomy and self-reliance by proactively realizing cooperation plans and increasing intra-trade and investment while expanding regional and inter-regional cooperation frameworks, Pham said.

He also urged ASEAN to connect supply chains and new economic models of green economy, digital economy and circular economy; further intensify connectivity between development spaces, including the Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar – Viet Nam (CLMV) Cooperation mechanism, in order to create an open, dynamic and inclusive economic network.

In addition, ASEAN needs to make efforts to create a driving force for innovation and creativity, through urgently completing new cooperation frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Digital Master Plan, promoting cooperation in data infrastructure development and cross-border data governance, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, and studying the establishment of the ASEAN Innovation Center Network.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham informed that Viet Nam will host the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum in 2026 to incubate and nurture seeds of ideas for an inclusive and sustainable future of ASEAN.

As the world and the region continue to witness complicated and unpredictable developments, the Prime Minister asked ASEAN to make tireless efforts to contribute to maintaining an environment of peace, security, stability and development, considering this as a top priority.

Accordingly, ASEAN needs to double efforts to maintain solidarity and unity, abide by its principled position and consistent stance on the East Sea issue, uphold international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), push for early conclusion of an efficient and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with international law, particularly the UNCLOS 1982.

Pham also underscored the need for ASEAN to continue uphold the culture of dialogue and cooperation, resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of the principles of the ASEAN Charter, the Treat of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), and interantional law.

He welcomed Cambodia and Thailand’s efforts in maintaining dialogues on the basis of friendly neighborly relations and the spirit of ASEAN. He promised to actively coordinate with other ASEAN Member States to help Cambodia and Thailand fully implement the agreements reached by the two countries.

On Myanmar situation, Prime Minister Pham stressed that this is a test of ASEAN’s prestige, cohesion and crisis management capacity. He suggested ASEAN engage more actively with relevant parties to promote the implementation of a ceasefire, dialogue and reconciliation, thus creating favorable conditions for an orderly, democratic, fair, transparent and inclusive general election.

Pham affirmed Viet Nam will cooperate with and support the Philippines to undertake the role as ASEAN Chair in 2026.

As Timor Leste has officially becomes the 11th member of the ASEAN family, Prime Minister Pham expressed his belief that this event will inspire new confidence, new spirit and create new momentum for the development process of the bloc. He affirmed that Viet Nam will share experience with Timor-Leste in connecting and integrating into the regional cooperation processs, including cooperation to narrow the development gap./.