ASEAN discusses regional issues

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other ASEAN leaders expressed concern about the increasing terrorist threat in the region due to the expanded terrorist recruitment activities. IT network security issues also caught the attention of ASEAN leaders due to their increasingly sophisticated character. The leaders agreed to improve co-ordination and sharing of information between countries to deal with cross-bordered issues such as climate change or Zika. To deal with the challenges of the global and regional economy, the meeting proposed that more specific support measures need to be implemented to help increase the competitiveness of businesses in the ASEAN bloc.

The leaders also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region, peaceful settlement of disputes, including the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. The role of promoting solidarity and unity and ASEAN's central role in maintaining relationships with partners was also agreed.