(VOVWORLD) - The 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, the largest formal multilateral foreign affairs activity of 2021, have just ended. They reaffirmed ASEAN's consensus in handling intra-regional challenges and promoting ASEAN's centrality in bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance contributed to the outcome of the Summits and confirmed Vietnam’s role regionally and globally.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leads the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 38th ASEAN Summit, October 26, 2021. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)
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ASEAN is facing many difficulties both internally and externally. Member countries have been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and instability. Externally, super power competition is affecting the role, image, and activities of ASEAN. The organization of these meetings with the attendance of all leaders of partner countries was the Association's answer to those challenges and its affirmation of the ASEAN spirit and values: taking dialogue and cooperation as tools for maintaining peace and stability.
Intra-regional cooperation, centrality
High on the agenda was cooperation in disease prevention and control, sustainable recovery, and socio-economic development in a new normalcy. Another hot topic was the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea). The Summits’ outstanding results were ASEAN unity and consensus on building a Community and realizing the goal of peace and stability. In addition, external partners still considered ASEAN important to them, committing to cooperate with ASEAN to effectively control the pandemic and respond to emerging challenges, including climate change, environmental pollution, and resource depletion. Sustainable recovery remained a priority most countries are striving to achieve.
The East Sea, Myanmar, and North Korea issues, and narrowing the development gap continued to be discussed extensively. All the other countries respected ASEAN’s centrality and expressed a willingness to transparently reveal their steps to the region, calling peace and stability a common goal, and the rule of law, frank dialogue, and effective cooperation the key tools for achieving that goal. They pointed to a sense of responsibility, transparent behavior, and harmonious relations as the basis for relations between countries inside and outside the region.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the closing ceremony of the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)
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Vietnam's responsible contribution
Embracing solidarity, cooperation, and willingness to be friends, reliable partners, and responsible members of the international community, Vietnam shared opinions on all issues discussed. Many of Vietnam's ideas were well-received. Vietnam contributed responsibly to the drafting of about 100 documents submitted to the Summit leaders for approval and recognition.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's statement on a new pandemic strategy was warmly welcomed. His approach suggested safely adapting to, flexibly responding to, and effectively controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in parallel with promoting socio-economic recovery and development, with people and businesses being central. Vietnam's straightforward, sincere, and transparent approach to regional and international issues, including the East Sea, regional links, and sub-regional development combined with ASEAN's overall development, was fully reflected in the Summit documents. Contributing to the success of the Summits, Vietnam has continued to confirm its image and role in the region and the world.