Prime Minister: Tariffs are an opportunity for ASEAN to promote autonomy and self-reliance

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh before the plenary session of the ASEAN Summit on May 26 - Photo: AFP

According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , continuing the working program of the 46th ASEAN Summit and other related summits, on the afternoon of May 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste attended a closed session to discuss international and regional issues.

ASEAN enhances intra-bloc trade and investment

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared the assessment of the countries on the rapidly changing and complex world situation. In that context, ASEAN needs to maintain its composure, calmness and clarity to proactively and flexibly adapt effectively to all changes in the situation.

The Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN needs to firmly follow the path of dialogue instead of confrontation, cooperation instead of competition, solidarity instead of division, and self-reliance instead of dependence.

More than ever, ASEAN needs to strengthen internal solidarity, promote its central role, and maintain balanced relations with major countries by effectively utilizing ASEAN's existing mechanisms.

ASEAN recommits to supporting a rules-based, transparent and free multilateral trading system, increasing intra-bloc investment and trade and expanding economic links with external partners - Photo: BAOCHINHPHU.VN

Sharing concerns about the impacts of tariff policy adjustments on countries, including ASEAN, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that this is an opportunity for ASEAN to promote autonomy, self-reliance, and restructure trade relations.

ASEAN needs to prioritize strengthening internal strength and expanding cooperation space through increasing intra-bloc trade and investment, maximizing new growth drivers such as digital transformation, green transformation, promoting intra-bloc consumption, and connecting energy and transport to facilitate the flow of goods.

The Prime Minister expressed his support for the early completion of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, more effectively exploiting the economic connectivity network, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), promoting the completion of FTAs with partners such as Canada and upgrading free trade agreements with China and India, diversifying markets, products and supply chains.

Prioritize supporting Myanmar in earthquake reconstruction

Sharing concerns about the complicated situation in the East Sea, the Prime Minister once again emphasized that ASEAN needs to make more efforts to affirm its central role in the East Sea issue - an issue directly related to peace, security and stability in the region, and requested ASEAN to continue to maintain solidarity and a principled stance on the East Sea issue.

Regarding the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Minister welcomed the ASEAN Chair's proactive and timely steps to promote the role of mediator and promote the 5-point Consensus.

He also asked ASEAN to continue to prioritize support for the people of Myanmar to overcome the consequences and rebuild after the March 28 earthquake; asked all parties in Myanmar to end violence, ensure humanitarian assistance is carried out safely; called on relevant parties in Myanmar to exercise restraint, sit down together, put the interests of the people and the country first, and work together to solve the problem.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Vietnam has sent 60 tons of goods and more than 100 officers and soldiers to participate in rescue work in Myanmar.

Vietnam has sent representatives to join the ASEAN Chair's Informal Advisory Group and will continue to coordinate closely with Malaysia and ASEAN countries to promote dialogue and reconciliation towards a feasible and sustainable solution for Myanmar.

Affirming ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea

At the closed session, leaders assessed the pressures ASEAN is facing, emphasizing strengthening solidarity, enhancing strategic autonomy, and promoting a common voice.

The leaders reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea, emphasizing the importance of respecting international law, peacefully resolving disputes, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promptly completing an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The countries also acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the Malaysian Chairman and the Chairman's special envoy to Myanmar, and supported promoting ASEAN's role in supporting Myanmar and effectively implementing the Five-Point Consensus.

ASEAN recommits to supporting a rules-based, transparent and free multilateral trading system, enhancing intra-regional trade and investment, and expanding economic linkages with external partners.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-tuong-thue-quan-la-co-hoi-de-asean-phat-huy-tu-chu-tu-cuong-20250526152311342.htm