Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse. Photo: VGP

The trip is made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.

PM Phuc’s attendance at the 35^th ASEAN Summit and related meetings aims to contribute to tightening and consolidating solidarity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), promoting the grouping’s central role, expanding and deepening its relations with regional partners, and creating an environment favourable for sustainable development in each country and the entire region.

The trip is also set to advance the image of Vietnam that has continuously carried out reforms and played an active role in regional cooperation, thus effectively protecting the country’s interests.

It is noteworthy that Thailand will hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship to Vietnam at the closing ceremony of the summit.

In August 2018, Vietnam took over the role of the coordinator of the ASEAN-Japan relations. In June this year, the country successfully organised the ASEAN-Japan Forum and the ASEAN-Japan Day in Hanoi.

Vietnam is consulting other ASEAN member countries and partners to build topics, priorities and initiatives for ASEAN in 2020 when it assumes the Chairmanship.

Accordingly, priorities will be given to promoting the intra-bloc connectivity and ASEAN’s adaptability to global uncertainties.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.

VNF/VNA