ASEAN needs to be dynamically adaptive, strengthen its self-reliance: Prime Minister

At the retreat, Pham noted that ASEAN should consolidate solidarity and unity, uphold the spirit of independence and self-reliance and its centrality. 

The bloc needs to maintain strategic balance in its relations with partners and create and promote a culture of dialogue, cooperation, consultation, and trust-building, he suggested. 

The Prime Minister underlined the necessity of maintaining its principled stance on issues relevant to the environment, security and development, defined in such documents as the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), especially upholding international law.

The most crucial task is that ASEAN Member States need to unite, uphold the responsibility and collective spirit for common goals and harmonize national interests with the interests of the association, he said. 

Pham re-affirmed the principled stance of ASEAN on the international and regional issues of common concerns, adding that protecting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea is the interest and responsibilities of all countries.  

The bloc should consistently pursue the goal of supporting Myanmar to fully implement the Five-Point Consensus for the sake of the Myanmar people, ASEAN unity, reputation and images, as well as the expectations of the global community, he said. 

ASEAN should advocate Indonesia's Chairmanship and Special Envoy to play a pioneering role in leading ASEAN to achieve this goal, recommended the Vietnamese leader. 

He also stated that the bloc should maintain an objective, balanced and responsible approach to the Russia-Ukraine issue and coordinate with partners to mitigate the impacts of the conflict on the region, thus making contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development.  

Following the session, Prime Minister Pham left Labuan Bajo, successfully concluding his working trip to Indonesia./.