Jakarta (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, together withleaders of other ASEAN member states, discussed regional and global issues, at aretreat session of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 11.

He said that after more than half a century of formationand development, ASEAN has never been in such a good position as well as facingas many challenges as it does today. ASEAN is both the centre of a series ofregional connectivity and integration initiatives and a key player in thefierce strategic competition among major powers.

The PM stressedthat ASEAN needs to be dynamically adaptive and strengthen itsself-reliance to assert its strategic value. ASEAN also needs to consolidate unityand solidarity, elevate the spirit of independence and self-reliance whilestrongly upholding its central role, maintaining a balanced strategicrelationship with partners, establish and promote a culture of dialogue,cooperation, consultation and trust building.

ASEAN needs to maintain its principled stanceon issues directly related to environment, security and development, as statedin foundational documents such as the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity andCooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific(AOIP), especially by raising the banner of upholding international law, hesaid.

On regional and global issues, PM Chinh sharedhis views on the increasingly intense strategic competition among major powers,affirming that it is of utmost importance that ASEAN member countries stay united,uphold a sense of responsibility and collective spirit towards common goals,and harmonise national interests with those of the bloc.

Reiterating ASEAN's principled stance onregional and global issues of shared concern, he highlighted the protection ofpeace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in theEast Sea as they are both a shared interest and responsibility of all countries.

Hesuggested that ASEAN, despite difficulties, should persist with thegoal of supporting Myanmar to fully implement the Five-PointConsensus for the sake of the Myanmar people, ASEAN unity, reputation andimages, as well as the expectations of the global community. He said ASEANshould back Indonesia's Chairmanship and Special Envoy that play a pioneeringrole in leading ASEAN to achieve this goal.

ꦦ ASEAN needs to maintain an objective,balanced, and responsible approach to the Russia-Ukraine issue, coordinate workwith partners, mitigate the impact of conflicts on the region, and contribute topeace, stability, cooperation and development, he said.

Leaders at the event reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance, emphasised the importance of peace, security, and stability in the East Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and striving to achieve a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) that is consistent with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also expressed support for ASEAN's role in assisting Myanmar and promoting the effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus while sharing concerns over the implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and stressing the need to adhere to the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The session concluded the activities of the42nd ASEAN Summit. Following the event, PM Chinh and his entourage leftLabuan Bajo for Vietnam, successfully concluding their working trip toIndonesia./.