Vietnam: Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed three key orientations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the coming time while addressing the plenary session of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-58) on Wednesday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, first, Son suggested ASEAN aim to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030. To that end, he recommended, the bloc must continue to prioritise maintaining strong economic growth.

Second, aiming to become a leading digital community, ASEAN needs to accelerate negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) to ensure it meets the practical requirements, particularly for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises.

Third, to build a truly people-centred community, the Vietnamese official emphasised that ASEAN must strengthen its connection with the people.

The role of the grouping should not only be reflected in high-level declarations but, more importantly, should be spread through concrete and practical actions.

Highlighting the core values that have contributed to the success of ASEAN, including unity and mutual respect, Son affirmed that in the current period of instability, the bloc’s unity and centrality, along with strong commitments to inclusive and sustainable development, continue to serve as guiding principles for the ASEAN Community.