Viet Nam calls on ASEAN to give top priority to community building

Bui made the above remarks at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, the 29th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, and the 36th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 25.

According to the Vietnamese official, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, along with new cooperation strategies, will serve as the framework for the bloc to act collectively and adapt proactively for mutual development.

ASEAN needs to strengthen its autonomy and resilience, especially economic resilience, to withstand external shocks, he said, adding that the bloc's external relations should pursue a consistent and focused approach in accordance with its long-term strategic priorities.

Bui expressed his hope that countries will advocate and join the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, scheduled to take place in Ha Noi in October this year.

He suggested ASEAN should develop a Declaration on enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation in the pursuit of wanted criminals, with an aim gradually position ASEAN as a model in combating transnational crime.

At these meetings, ASEAN foreign ministers exchanged views and reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on international and regional issues.

They spoke highly of ASEAN's prompt support to Myanmar following the earthquake disaster, calling on on all relevant parties in Myanmar to end the violence, engage in dialogue, and work together on relief efforts and long-term recovery and reconstruction.

Bui urged ASEAN to seek new approaches and measures to more effectively implement the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.

He hailed the efforts of Timor-Leste, reaffirming Viet Nam's support for Timor-Leste's early accession to ASEAN.

The occasion, Bui had meetings with Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique Manalo, Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Yusof and had a working session with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Thongsavanh Phomvihane./.