Hanoi (VNA) – The 36th ASEANSummit offers an opportunity for the regional countries to further enhanceintra-bloc cooperation to repel challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on June 26.

Chairing the plenary session of the summit, which took place in the form of avideo conference, the Vietnamese leader urged the ASEAN member nations to exertfurther efforts to complete the bloc’s cooperation goals for 2020 andeffectively respond to regional challenges, including COVID-19.

As the pandemic is still hitting the region and the world, he expressed hishope that the ASEAN countries will demonstrate stronger determination to bothcontain the spread of disease and promote sustainable development. 

The PM asked other ASEAN leaders to focus their discussion on orientations tofoster cooperation in building the ASEAN Community, including theimplementation of priorities of 2020 and measures to control the pandemic andto recover socio-economic development in the region.

During the session, ASEAN leaders reviewed the progress of the building of theASEAN Community since their 35th Summit, and directed the implementation ofcooperation plans between the group and its partners. They also compared noteson regional and international issues of common concern.

ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi delivered a report on the recentcooperation among its member countries, and Vietnamese Deputy PM, ForeignMinister and Chairman of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee Pham BinhMinh briefed participants on the bloc’s efforts and cooperation in the fightagainst COVID-19.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s role as the ASEAN 2020 Chair, participants saidwith significant results in controlling the pandemic, ASEAN has sent out astrong message on a regional organisation that is cohesive and proactive andplaying a key role in the regional development. 

They also stressed the need to improve skills of workers, considering this asan important factor for ASEAN’s development, especially in the digital age, andcompared notes on regional and international issues of common concern.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc underlined the importance of strengthening theASEAN's central role the region, as well as bolstering its relations withpartners for peace, sustainable development and effective responses to emergingchallenges.

ASEAN leaders approved the ASEAN Chair Statement on the outcomes of the 36thASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Leaders' Vision Statement on a Cohesive and ResponsiveASEAN, and the ASEAN Declaration on human resources development for thechanging world of work./.