PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc speaks at the opening ceremony of the 36th ASEAN Summit. — Photo mseap.org

HÀ NỘI — The 37th ASEAN Summit will take place November 12-15 in Hà Nội chaired by Việt Nam in the format of a videoconference, the Vietnamese foreign ministry announced on Thursday.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will preside over the summit and other related summits and high-level meetings with the focus on ASEAN Community building process, completion of priorities and initiatives in 2020 and fostering ASEAN's external relations.

ASEAN leaders will discuss issues of regional and global concern and how to uphold ASEAN's centrality in the post-COVID-19 world, according to the foreign ministry.

Other than the main summit, there will be also ASEAN+1 summits with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US, Australia, the United Nations, and the ASEAN-New Zealand leaders’ summit to commemorate 45 years of partnership, the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summit, the Mekong-Japan and Mekong-RoK summits, the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Việt Nam (CLMV) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle Area summit.

In addition, on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN Summit, there will be the first ASEAN women leaders’ summit, ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, and the East Asia Business Council Meeting.

Prior to the main events, on November 9-12, ministers in charge of pillars of ASEAN Community and other leaders will have preparation meetings.

The summit will be the final one before Việt Nam hands over the chairmanship to Brunei.

Asked about the progress of Việt Nam’s initiatives in its ASEAN Chairmanship year, deputy spokesperson for the foreign ministry Dương Hoài Nam said since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, ASEAN has been effective in accomplishing its ‘dual goals’ of pursuing the building of the ASEAN Community while combating the coronavirus and pushing for economic recovery.

Nam said to date, ASEAN has fundamentally completed all of Việt Nam’s priorities and initiatives in 2020 following the roadmap set earlier – including the mid-term evaluation of the ASEAN Community Vision towards 2025, reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, issuing the Hà Nội Declaration on the ASEAN Community Vision towards 2025, incorporating sub-region development with the common roadmap for building the ASEAN Community with the aim of sustainable development, and promoting the image, awareness and recognition of the ASEAN Community.

The ASEAN COVID-19 response fund has received US$10 million in contributions from ASEAN members and partners, while the ASEAN regional medical supplies reserve and ASEAN centre for public health emergencies and emerging diseases are expected to be formally established during the 37th summit of the bloc, the deputy spokesperson added. — VNS