Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucinspected preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings at theinternational convention centre in Hanoi on November 11.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events fromNovember 12 to 15 will be held via videoconference with the participation ofleaders of the 10 ASEAN member nations and important partners.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings areamong the most important activities during the ASEAN Chairmanship of Vietnamthis year. 

They will include seven ASEAN Plus One summits(between the bloc and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US,Australia, and the UN), the 23rd ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 15th East AsiaSummit, the ASEAN-New Zealand leaders’ summit to commemorate the 45thanniversary of their dialogue relations, the summit of leaders of membercountries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Mekong-JapanSummit, the Mekong-Republic of Korea Summit, the 10thCambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit, the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Summit onDevelopment Triangle Area.

The first ASEAN women leadership summit, theASEAN Business and Investment Summit, and the East Asia Business Council Summitwill be among fringe activities.

Vietnam will hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship toBrunei at the closing ceremony.

At the opening ceremony of the events, PartyGeneral Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong will make an importantaddress, and PM Phuc will deliver the opening speech after that.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dungreported to the PM that apart from preparing agenda for the events, the besttechnical preparations have also been made, noting that ministerial meetingshave been organised well over the past few days.

After examining the events’ venues, PM Phuchighly valued the Foreign Ministry and relevant agencies’ preparations, fromtechnical to security issues.

As the opening ceremony will see the presence ofabout 250 Vietnamese and foreign guests, along with some 300 domestic andinternational reporters, the organisation of this ceremony as well as meetingsmust ensure safety from COVID-19 and, at the same time, reflect the host’shospitality.

He ordered the Foreign Ministry and relevantagencies to create the best possible conditions for reporters to cover theevents so as to help popularise Vietnam’s image.

PM Phuc also asked them to ensure high-qualityagenda for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings which should discussissues of regional concern so as to help enhance cooperation and solidaritywithin the bloc./.