The PM is to preside over the opening, plenary, and special sessions on women’s empowerment in the digital age. He will also chair dialogues between ASEAN leaders and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), ASEAN youth representatives, and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).
Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will deliver a speech at the special session on women’s empowerment in the digital age, while National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, head of the Vietnamese delegation to AIPA, will attend the dialogue between ASEAN leaders and AIPA.
At the plenary session in the morning, ASEAN leaders are to examine reports and give opinions on the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, namely the Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community.
ASEAN leaders will review and recommend solutions to the problems hampering ASEAN’s plans and initiatives. They will take stock of the ASEAN Community’s building efforts and the challenges ahead and adopt a number of key documents to improve the lives of people in the bloc post-COVID-19. The leaders are expected to adopt an ASEAN Chair Statement on the outcomes of the 36th ASEAN Summit, a Vision Statement on ASEAN’s cohesive and proactive adaptation, and an ASEAN Declaration on human resources development for the changing world of work.
Since early this year, Vietnam has worked with other ASEAN members to promote the theme for 2020: “A Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN”. The COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact have made the theme especially vital and Vietnam’s efforts as ASEAN Chair have reflected this.
Through the solidarity of ASEAN’s members, the 36th ASEAN Summit will promote ASEAN’s plans and initiatives and strengthen ASEAN’s central role in the region.
The gathering is the first official summit hosted by Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in 2020.
