Viet Nam makes important, active contributions to ASEAN: ASEAN Secretary-General

Besides, the "S"-shape country is one of the ASEAN members that draw significant attention in investment, tourism and trade, he said.

Regarding critical issues to be discussed at the 42nd ASEAN Summit slated for May 9-11 in Indonesia with the participation of 11 countries, he said that the event would focus on intra-bloc issues, namely ASEAN Community building, regional integration and priorities of the ASEAN Chair in 2023.

ASEAN leaders will meet the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) and give their ideas on building a strategic vision towards 2045.

Along with the agenda on the economy, digital economy, climate change response and regional and international issues of shared concern, participants will discuss the promotion of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) in four significant aspects of maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development goals, economy and other fields.

Regarding the ASEAN 2023 theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth," Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stressed that ASEAN remaims a vital regional and global player.

That's why the association continues to attract a lot of interest from external partners, some of which want to upgrade their partnership with the ASEAN and join ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Mentioning the formulation of an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reiterated that during a retreat in early February, ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed to speed up negotiations for the deal.

To ensure an effective COC, it is necessary to rely on the member states directly participating in the negotiation between ASEAN and China./.