Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends ASEAN Leaders' Retreat in Cebu
WVR - On the afternoon of May 8, within the framework of the 48th ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attended the ASEAN Leaders' Retreat. The main discussion topic was addressing the energy crisis arising from geopolitical tensions and the lessons learned for ASEAN.
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| Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and delegation leaders attend the ASEAN Leaders' Retreat at the 48th ASEAN Summit. (Source: VGP) |
The leaders expressed concern over the profound and comprehensive impacts of recent complex geopolitical developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, on the region. To address the crisis's impacts, ASEAN leaders agreed on the need to strengthen solidarity and enhance cooperation to boost strategic autonomy.
Additionally, ASEAN must have a strong unified voice on key international issues, including maritime and aviation security, safety, and freedom, with the goal of ensuring peace, security, stability, and development in the region.
Speaking at the Summit, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung echoed the ASEAN leaders' assessments and emphasized that in an increasingly uncertain and unpredictable strategic environment, ASEAN must not only adapt to change but also lead and shape it. Accordingly, the Prime Minister outlined three key proposals for ASEAN in the new context.
Firstly, ASEAN should take the lead in upholding rules and building trust in international relations by persistently advocating for multilateralism and adherence to international law. ASEAN should actively contribute to maintaining maritime and aviation security, safety, and freedom globally and regionally.
In the East Sea, ASEAN should work with China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the DOC and swiftly reach a substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, following the agreed roadmap.
Secondly, in a rapidly changing world, ASEAN must anticipate change by proactively preventing and managing crises. Drawing lessons from the Middle East, the Prime Minister proposed that ASEAN should effectively utilize existing mechanisms, especially cooperation frameworks with partners, to promote dialogue, build trust, and implement preventive diplomacy.
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| To address the crisis's impacts, ASEAN leaders agreed on the need to strengthen solidarity and enhance cooperation to boost strategic autonomy. (Source: VGP) |
The dispute resolution mechanisms and tools of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) should be effectively leveraged to promote dialogue and seek solutions to differing issues.
Thirdly, enhancing strategic autonomy and promoting centrality is the only choice for ASEAN to stand firm and overcome the current multidimensional challenges.
Amid great power competition and pressure to take sides, ASEAN must strengthen unity, maintain cohesion, and balance relations with partners. ASEAN must uphold its central role, shape the agenda in ASEAN-led mechanisms, and continue to expand development space by fostering external relations with potential partners.
