Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and a high-rankingdelegation left Hanoi on November 1 night for Thailand to attend the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, scheduled for November 2-4 in Bangkok.
The trip is made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.
PM Phuc’s attendance at the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetingsaims to contribute to tightening and consolidating solidarity within theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), promoting the grouping’scentral role, expanding and deepening its relations with regional partners, andcreating an environment favourable for sustainable development in each countryand the entire region.
The trip is also set to advance the image of Vietnam that has continuouslycarried out reforms and played an active role in regional cooperation, thuseffectively protecting the country’s interests.
It is noteworthy that Thailand will hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship to Vietnamat the closing ceremony of the summit.
In August 2018, Vietnam took over the role of the coordinator of theASEAN-Japan relations. In June this year, the country successfully organisedthe ASEAN-Japan Forum and the ASEAN-Japan Day in Hanoi.
Vietnam is consulting other ASEAN member countries and partners to buildtopics, priorities and initiatives for ASEAN in 2020 when it assumes theChairmanship.
Accordingly, priorities will be given to promoting the intra-bloc connectivityand ASEAN’s adaptability to global uncertainties.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand andVietnam./.
VNA
