Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (6th from left) attends the opening session of the 31st ASEAN Summit (Photo VNA)Manila (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc and leaders from nine other ASEAN member countries attended theopening ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, onNovember 13.
The event also saw the attendance of leaders from around 20 partnercountries and international organisations, including China, the US, Russia, theEuropean Union, and the United Nations.
In his opening speech, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Dutertesaid the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings offer good opportunities forASEAN member nations and their partners to discuss regional issues.
He strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism as wellas copyright violations and piracy which have posed serious threats to regionaland global economic growth.
The President also highlighted ASEAN cooperation in combatingand preventing drug crimes.
The ASEAN Summit is the most important event of the bloc thisyear with the participation of leaders from 10 member countries of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN partners to strengthensolidarity, promote the grouping’s central role, foster economic growth, narrowthe development gap, and improve the ASEAN Community’s capacity.
Related meetings will be held after the summit, including the20th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea);separate ASEAN meetings with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, theUS, Canada, the European Union, and the United Nations; and the 12th East AsiaSummit (EAS).
As many as 55 documents are expected to be signed and adoptedat the meetings. The Philippines will also issue nine declarations of theChairs of the summits.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
