Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has highlighted the importance of unity and solidarity within ASEAN during a summit organized in Vientiane on Tuesday.

The Vietnamese premier, along with leaders of other ASEAN member states gathered in the Lao capital for the 28th and 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits.

The three-day event is also attended by ASEAN dialogue partners including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Russia, and the United States.

ASEAN is a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Speaking at the meeting, PM Phuc reiterated that all member nations were responsible for maintaining unity within ASEAN, for the interests of each individual and of the organization as a whole.

The member countries should conduct more regular consultation to reach a common voice regarding regional issues that have a direct impact on the security and development of the bloc, the premier continued.

As a central pillar of politics and security, ASEAN should exert more efforts in cementing mutual trust and highlight compliance with international law, namely the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Disputes should be resolved via negotiation to ensure peace and security in the region, Phuc stated, adding that threats from non-traditional security challenges, especially terror and cyber attacks, need to be prevented.

With regard to economic matters, the Vietnamese head of government proposed that ASEAN establish more favorable conditions for trade and investment, stabilize finance and currency, boost small-scale and high-tech businesses, and enhance cooperation in macroeconomic management.

Hosting the summit, Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachith called on the ASEAN member states to extend their international cooperation to build an active community with the top priority being the interests of the peoples.

Many important documents have been approved by the attending leaders, which were aimed at narrowing development gaps, fostering cooperation in economic fields, tourism, culture, and others.

On the sideline of the meeting, PM Phuc joined talks with his Laotian counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on Tuesday afternoon, addressing the effective execution of agreements signed by the two leaders.

The Vietnamese head of government also met with Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss peace, security and cooperation in the East Vietnam Sea.

President Duterte accepted the invitation to visit Vietnam by the Vietnamese premier.   

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