ASEAN reached high concensus on regional issues, especially the East Sea issue, during the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok, Thailand, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while chairing the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over the Cabinet
meeting in Ha Noi on November 5, 2019. Photo: VGP

 Viet Nam took over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Thailand on Monday evening after the Government chief received the symbolic gavel from his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha in a hand-over ceremony.

Speaking afterwards, Phuc said as the new chairman, Viet Nam's key priorities include boosting ASEAN solidarity and unity, extensive intra and extra economic connectivity toward sustainable and inclusive development, community sense, and partnership between ASEAN and its partnership.

PM Phuc also unveiled the theme of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 - Cohesive and Responsive at the closing ceremony of the 35th ASEAN Summit at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Arena, Exhibition Convention Center.

Viet Nam looks forwards to receiving proactive support and assistance from all the ASEAN member States and the bloc's partners so as to help the host realize the chair's theme in 2020.

As the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Viet Nam needs to make the best contributions to promote the central role of ASEAN and heighten the bloc’s global position amid complicated developments in the region and the world, PM Phuc stressed./.