Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's speeches at the conferences within the framework of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits recently held in Vientiane (Laos) left many impressions by suggesting new thinking, approaches and development ideas for the region, stemming from practical requirements. The head of the Vietnamese Government attended the ASEAN Summit at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (ASEAN Chair 2024), with a continuous and dense schedule of activities for 4 days with more than 60 bilateral and multilateral activities. "This affirms Vietnam's proactive, positive and responsible role, while contributing to promoting Vietnam's relations with its partners," according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

ASEAN Resilient, Connected and Innovative

With the theme "ASEAN: Promoting Connectivity and Resilience", the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits were a great success with nearly 20 activities, attended by more than 30 leaders of ASEAN countries and partners. With about 90 documents adopted and acknowledged, more than 2,000 delegates attending the events and 1,000 reporters covering the news, this is the most important series of high-level activities of ASEAN in the year. Talking to the press after the working trip, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung assessed the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits as very successful with two basic goals of connectivity and resilience.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung assessed the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits as very successful with two basic goals of connectivity and self-reliance (Photo: Hoai Thu).

In particular, the spirit of connection is reflected in the consensus to focus on expanding new and important areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, semiconductor chips, renewable energy, etc. This conference, according to Minister Dung, also emphasized the spirit of solidarity and self-reliance of each country in responding to many challenges such as climate change, disease prevention, towards the goal of serving people. On the Vietnamese side, the high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has been very active in both multilateral and bilateral activities, affirming Vietnam's role and position in ASEAN, especially its leading role. Regarding the Socio-Cultural Community, this ASEAN Summit adopted and recognized 37/92 statements, focusing on very new and topical issues and aiming for the goal of serving people, placing people at the center of the pillars. In particular, Minister Dung mentioned major issues such as health, culture, environment, economy, care, recognition and development of vocational skills for workers in the context of migration, especially the prevention of child labor. With bilateral activities, the Minister of Labor mentioned issues that the leaders of the Vietnamese Government as well as other countries are very interested in, which are population aging, labor cooperation, especially the situation of labor migration. According to the Minister, to solve these problems, the most important thing is to train and foster human resources, especially high-quality human resources for the rapid and sustainable development of countries. "This is also an experience for Vietnam. We need to soon build a national policy framework on preventing and combating population aging as well as adjusting the replacement birth rate, making the most of the golden population period for rapid and sustainable development," Minister Dung emphasized.

Panorama of the plenary session of the 44th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos (Photo: Doan Bac).

At the conferences, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's speeches not only deepened the connotation of ASEAN's "connectivity" and "self-reliance" in the current context, but also suggested new thinking, approaches and development ideas for the region based on practical requirements. The Vietnamese Government leader said that in the context of an increasingly volatile world, ASEAN continues to be a bright spot in the global economy, a bridge of dialogue and cooperation, and the focal point of integration and linkage processes in the region. Considering that ASEAN is preparing for a new development phase with new thinking, new vision, new motivation and new mindset, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that ASEAN take self-reliance as the foundation to reach new heights, take connectivity as the focus to make breakthroughs, and take innovation as the driving force to pioneer and lead. Regarding promoting ASEAN's "self-reliance" at all levels, the Prime Minister affirmed that solidarity, unity in diversity, self-reliance and strategic autonomy are prerequisites for ASEAN to stand firm in the face of fluctuations. The need for strategic connectivity in all aspects was also emphasized by the head of the Vietnamese Government. He mentioned connecting common visions; connecting development cooperation, promoting new growth drivers and connecting people, enhancing exchanges, firmly consolidating the identity of the ASEAN Community as well as the foundation of friendly relations between ASEAN and its partners. In the face of the rapid and complicated developments of the current world and regional situation, the Prime Minister highlighted three tasks for ASEAN to develop steadily and move steadily towards the future. First, ASEAN needs to have creative thinking, breakthrough ideas and drastic actions to promote its pioneering and leading role. Second, ASEAN needs to play a bridging role connecting regional and global priorities, creating complementarity and resonance in efforts to ensure peace, security and development. Third, ASEAN needs to encourage broader participation and contribution of groups, genders, including parliaments, businesses and youth to the community building process. In front of ASEAN leaders, the Prime Minister announced that Vietnam will continue to organize the "ASEAN Future Forum 2025" with the desire to contribute more to regional cooperation and connectivity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the plenary session of the 44th ASEAN Summit (Photo: Doan Bac).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also suggested that ASEAN and its partners need to "be resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change". This is especially necessary and important in the context of the recent consecutive extreme climate events, such as super typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia or typhoons Helene and Milton in the US. The activities and statements of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation affirmed Vietnam's stance on regional and international issues in the spirit of respecting consensus within ASEAN. Vietnam's active, proactive, dynamic and effective participation has helped ASEAN member countries and partners address global issues. Vietnam's contributions and initiatives at this important conference have also contributed to the overall success of the event, while effectively protecting Vietnam's legitimate interests.

Vietnam gives top priority to relations with Laos

In Vientiane, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings with all senior leaders of Laos: General Secretary, President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Chairman of the National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Vice President Bounthong Chithmani. Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, which Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has repeatedly emphasized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: Doan Bac).

According to him, this is an invaluable asset, an objective requirement, a top priority, the number one choice and a vital factor for the revolutionary cause of the two countries. In the context of complicated developments in the world and the region, the two sides affirmed to continue to foster the Vietnam - Laos relationship "forever green, forever sustainable", bringing economic cooperation to increasingly develop substantially and effectively. The leaders of the Lao Party and State and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed to strengthen the connection between the two economies of Vietnam - Laos and between the three economies of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia in the coming time; continue to strengthen cooperation and effective connection in various fields, including transport infrastructure, trade - investment, agriculture, etc. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated Laos' role as ASEAN Chair 2024. He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to strengthen coordination with Laos and other countries to ensure the success of ASEAN Conferences, contributing to promoting Laos' prestige and ASEAN's solidarity and consensus. During the meeting with the Lao and Cambodian Prime Ministers, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his two counterparts agreed to continue to coordinate to make the three countries' cooperation more substantive and effective, meeting the practical needs of the three countries and in line with development needs in the new period.

Call for preferential loans to build high-speed railway

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also had meetings and contacts with all senior leaders of countries and international organizations. With each partner, the Prime Minister proposed very specific and appropriate cooperation orientations. In particular, the Prime Minister proposed that Japan, South Korea, the World Bank, AIIB, etc. provide preferential loans for Vietnam to implement large-scale, symbolic infrastructure projects such as high-speed railways, expressways, seaports, airports, etc. With Singapore, the Prime Minister proposed to effectively implement the Green Economic Partnership, digital economy; develop a system of sustainable and smart Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) 2.0; Singapore supports Vietnam in building a model of a National Data Science Innovation Center. With Thailand, the two Prime Ministers agreed to coordinate with relevant countries to pilot the "Six Countries, One Destination" tourism cooperation initiative. With India, the two Prime Ministers agreed to soon negotiate a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, increase the frequency of direct flights connecting major cities of the two countries. With the Philippines, the two leaders discussed Vietnam's continued support for the Philippines to ensure food security, and effectively implement the memorandums of understanding on agricultural cooperation and rice trade cooperation signed earlier this year. With Brunei, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, and cooperation to participate in the global supply chain of Halal goods and food. The Prime Minister also asked countries to coordinate with Vietnam to minimize illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, support Vietnam to soon remove the European Commission's "yellow card" on seafood, and treat each other's fishermen and fishing vessels humanely, in accordance with the Strategic Partnership and ASEAN solidarity. Leaders of countries and international organizations have affirmed the importance of relations with Vietnam and highly appreciated Vietnam's increasing position and role in the international arena. Sharing and appreciating the Prime Minister's opinions and proposals, many partners hope to soon develop relations with Vietnam to a new height. UN Secretary-General António Guterres assessed Vietnam as a model of peace and sustainable development, "the star of ASEAN"; contributing to raising the voice and role of developing countries. The Secretary-General also highly agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's vision and "all-people, comprehensive, global" approach in addressing issues such as natural disasters, climate change, population aging, resource depletion, etc. Meeting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for the first time, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba affirmed his desire to bring the relationship between the two countries into deeper and more substantial depth. He highly agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's proposals on enhancing economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Without good businessmen, the country cannot develop.

During his working trip to Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2024 and a special breakfast exchange between the three Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. Emphasizing the role of businesses, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that "without a team of good entrepreneurs, the economy will stagnate and the country will not be able to prosper". The Vietnamese Government leader asked businesses and entrepreneurs to implement "5 pioneers". One is to pioneer in contributing to a self-reliant ASEAN, participating in handling emerging issues, global issues, and the whole people. Two is to pioneer in promoting economic connectivity, including both hard and soft connectivity, taking people and businesses as the center, the subject, the goal, the resource, and the driving force for development. Third, pioneering in promoting the development of science and technology, innovation and startups, especially in responding to climate change, population aging, natural disasters, epidemics and developing emerging fields, renewing traditional growth drivers and promoting new growth drivers. Fourth, pioneering in building strategic infrastructure in each country and connecting countries. Fifth, pioneering in integration within ASEAN and with the world. Vietnam will create the most favorable conditions for businesses and investors to fully develop their capabilities and creativity, according to the commitment of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue to promote its role in creating development with the motto of "open policies, smooth infrastructure, smart governance", reducing compliance costs and logistics costs for people and businesses. The Prime Minister called on foreign businesses and entrepreneurs to continue to invest and cooperate in Vietnam in the spirit of "4 together": "Listening and understanding together", "sharing vision and action together", "working together, winning together, enjoying together, developing together", "sharing joy, happiness and pride".

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Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/thong-diep-va-vai-tro-tien-phong-cua-viet-nam-trong-asean-tu-cuong-ket-noi-20241012180159351.htm