The 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings opened in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 5, under the chair of the host country’s President Joko Widodo, VNA reported.

The Vietnamese delegation to the events is led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Before that, the 23rd meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) discussed Indonesia’s 16 priority economic deliverables (PEDs) under its chairmanship in Jakarta on September 3, ahead of the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (fifth from left). Photo: VNA

This year, the economic pillars consist of 16 PEDs within three strategic drivers, namely restructuring and recovery, digital economy, and sustainable development.

Ambassador Vu Ho, head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, attended the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 3 to review preparations for the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

Leaders from ASEAN countries and their partners will join events such as the 43rd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN+1 Summits with partners including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the US, India, Russia, Canada and the United Nations, the ASEAN+3 Summit, and the East Asia Summit.

A Vietnamese representative at the event. Photo: VNA

Heads of SOM of ASEAN countries reviewed and basically completed the draft documents for the high-level meetings which are expected to adopt and acknowledge nearly 100 documents covering various areas of cooperation within the ASEAN bloc, as well as with external partners, and measures to enhance the effectiveness of ASEAN activities.

Reflecting on the 2023 activities, they spoke highly of the practical priorities set for building the ASEAN Community, contributing to promoting trade, investment, and economic recovery while accelerating digitization, green growth, and sustainable development in the region.

They are intended to provide momentum for ASEAN cooperation in the coming years, with the aim of realizing "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth".

A new regional cooperation platform called ASEAN Concord IV is expected to be approved this time.

Earlier, on September 4, foreign ministers from ASEAN reached an agreement on a new regional cooperation platform called ASEAN Concord IV during the ongoing summit in Jakarta.

The initiative for ASEAN Concord IV has been put forward by the current chair, Indonesia, and is expected to "serve as the foundation for ASEAN Community's Vision 2045" while strengthening the regional bloc's ability to address future challenges, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said when chairing the ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting.

ASEAN is already facing significant challenges today, and they will become even more substantial in the future, she said, adding member countries should have the courage to take bold steps to ensure the bloc remains relevant in changing conditions and that differences among members should not hinder ASEAN's progress.

Indonesia has been the venue for several landmark regional agreements. Notably, during the 1976 Summit in Bali, the regional bloc, which consisted of five members at the time, agreed on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. This treaty ensured that disputes among members must be resolved through peaceful means and affirmed their commitment to opposing military aggression. It is known as Bali Concord I.

Bali Concord II, adopted in the 2003 summit, laid the foundation for the establishment of ASEAN economic, security, and social communities, as regional economic cooperation became increasingly integrated.

Eight years later, Bali Concord III was adopted to enable the bloc's active participation and contribution to global interactions.

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