Summit reflects common efforts to turn ASEAN into growth epicentre: ambassador

Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam (Photo: ASEAN)

Hanoi (VNA) – With the 2023 ASEAN theme of “ASEANMatters: Epicentre of Growth”, the coming 42nd ASEAN Summit reflectsmember countries’ wish and efforts to turn the bloc into a growth epicentre that leadscooperation and connectivity processes in the region and contributes to thecommon goal of peace, stability, and prosperity.

So said Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting head of the ASEAN SeniorOfficials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, in an interview granted tothe press ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place inLabuan Bajo, Indonesia, from May 9 to 11.

He noted the organisation of the 42nd ASEAN Summitin Labuan Bajo, an island with limited infrastructure but huge tourismpotential and lying far from Jakarta capital, demonstrates member countries’determination to join hands in promoting economic recovery in a sustainable andinclusive manner.

With the 2023 ASEAN theme and facing complex and unpredictablechanges, leaders of member countries will focus on emerging regional and globalissues, devise orientations for conduct, and seek solutions so as to affirm thebloc’s role, reputation, and sense of responsibility in the current context.
           
Ho said that leaders of member countries will engagein a number of activities on this occasion, including a plenary session and aretreat. They will have dialogues with representatives of parliaments, the youth,and enterprises, along with the High-Level Task Force for the ASEAN Community’sPost-2025 Vision.

This willbe the first time ASEAN leaders have a dialogue with senior representatives ofthe task force to look into future orientations for the bloc after 2025, thediplomat went on.

This summit is expected to adoptmany important documents on all the three pillars of the ASEAN Community,namely politics - security, economy, and culture - society. They cover variousaspects, including economy, finance, development, society, major cooperationtrends, and issues of shared concern.

Ambassador Ho said the Vietnamese delegation will take part in the 42nd ASEAN Summit in an active, responsible, and creative manner to contribute tothe event’s common success.

Vietnam will bring to the summit a messageof consolidating solidarity and resilience, promoting the bloc’s capacity of respondingand flexibly adapting to volatility, and bringing into play ASEAN’s role,voice, and sense of responsibility more strongly when engaging in common worksof the region and the world, he added./.

VNA