(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia's coastal town of Labuan Bajo.
At the Summit, the leaders of member countries expressed their support for and emphasized the strategic significance of the theme “ASEAN matters: Epicentrum of Growth". They committed to promoting ASEAN economic integration, increasing intra-regional trade and investment, as well as capacity building to ensure financial stability, food security, and energy security.
Leaders approved the key elements of ASEAN Community Vision after 2025, which outlines future of the Community in the next 20 years, with stronger development goals and aspirations.
They also approved 10 documents to orient ASEAN cooperation in multiple fields.
Leaders released a statement condemning the attack on the humanitarian aid convoy, which included staff from the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) and the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Monitoring Group in Myanmar.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the opening ceremony of the 42nd ASEAN Summit. Photo: VOV
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Addressing the Summit, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh raised three core issues that determine the identity, values, vitality and prestige of ASEAN. They are maintaining independence and strategy self-reliance, turning itself into a growth epicenter and better adapting to external shocks.
The Prime Minister emphasized that expanding the internal market is an urgent requirement to promote recovery and sustainable development amid global uncertainties. He called for efforts in negotiations to advance the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, and concertedly and drastically rolling out projects on regional connectivity in terms of institutions, infrastructure and people, thus creating quality changes in the investment, business and tourism environment.
PM Chinh also suggested ASEAN step up cooperation in digital economy, digital government and circular economy in tandem with electricity connectivity and renewable energy development, soon set forth long-term strategies on high-quality personnel training.
The core spirit of ASEAN is putting people at the center and as the goals and driving force of Community building, the Prime Minister said. He stressed the need to narrow the development gap, especially in remote, isolated areas. Sub-regional cooperation needs to be linked with ASEAN cooperation programs in all fields, opening up a larger space and ensuring a better life for people, according to PM Chinh.
After the opening session, leaders of ASEAN countries had a dialogue with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Youth, Enterprises and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Vision after 2025.