In his acceptance speech, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc congratulated Thailand on the successful organisation of ASEAN Summit, which will lay ground for Việt Nams’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2020.

Over the past year, ASEAN has paid attention to resistance capacity, innovation and sustainability of the bloc, he said, highlighting the necessity of ASEAN to promote common interests among member states to preserve identity of member states.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (L) hands the chairmanship hammer to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at the ceremony in Bangkok on November 4 . — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

“Following those efforts, we [Việt Nam] will focus on promoting ASEAN cohesion and sustainability through enhancing solidarity, unity, strengthening economic integration and connecting ASEAN Community’s identities as well as improving ASEAN institutional efficiency and fostering ASEAN relations with global partners.”

Through this sustainable co-operation, the bloc will be able to tackle various challenges, he said.

“Cohesive and responsive” are key theme of ASEAN 2020 hosted by Việt Nam, he said, adding that these two elements are integrated.

“A cohesive and growing community needs to adapt to external impacts. The cohesion will be achieved if ASEAN is united.” —VNS