Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote solidarity amid global challenges at a closing meeting for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia on Thursday.

ASEAN is in a good position but faces global uncertainties, Prime Minister Chinh said at the meeting, adding that it is necessary to foster solidarity among ASEAN members in order to overcome hardships.

The bloc should also focus on becoming adaptable and self-reliant to consolidate strategic value, said PM Chinh.

He also urged ASEAN members to boost collaboration for their benefits and to build a stronger ASEAN community.

The Vietnamese prime minister underlined that all the nations have the responsibility for maintaining peace and guaranteeing maritime safety and security in the East Vietnam Sea.

PM Chinh used the meeting to suggest that ASEAN maintain its objective stance on the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. 

He also noted that ASEAN should seek out partnership that can help it minimize the impact of global conflicts on the Southeast Asian region and make active contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.

The leaders of the Southeast Asian nations also pinpointed global uncertainties at the meeting, emphasizing that solidarity is an important prerequisite for the growth and prestige of ASEAN.

ASEAN leaders were determined to effectively implement cooperative agreements to beef up economic growth and fight climate change, diseases, cyberattacks, labor slavery, and transnational crimes.

Furthermore, they affirmed the importance of peace, stability, and security in the East Vietnam Sea, as well as the assurance of the smooth implementation of the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) and the finalization of a Code of Conduct (COC) for the maritime area.

Prime Minister Chinh said at a meeting with his Timor Leste counterpart Taur Matan Ruak on the same day that Vietnam was eager to share experience with and support the latter's country as it seeks to become the 11th member of ASEAN.

The Vietnamese leader proposed Timor Leste pave the way for Vietnamese firms to do business in the country and remove legal obstacles.

He also suggested that Timor Leste ratify the bilateral trade agreement inked in 2013 and put into action the memorandum of understanding on rice trading signed in 2015.

During the meeting, the PM Chinh invited PM Ruak to visit Vietnam.

Prime Minister Chinh and his entourage flew back to Vietnam from Indonesia on Thursday afternoon.

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