Vietnam PM joins ASEAN summit on first overseas trip

The PM and his entourage arrived in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta Friday afternoon.

A report on the government portal said Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation will attend the summit at the headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat on Friday and Saturday at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, which currently serves as the ASEAN Chair.

This is the first overseas trip as prime minister by Chinh, who was sworn in on April 5. The trip affirms the priority Vietnam assigns to tighten and strengthen relationships of solidarity and mutual assistance with fellow ASEAN members, contributing to enhancing the role and position of the bloc in solving challenges and creating a peaceful and favorable environment for the sustainable development of each country and the region.

Among other things, the summit will discuss the political instability in Myanmar, as proposed by Brunei last month.

Myanmar has fallen into crisis since the army seized power and detained government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on February 1. Hundreds of thousands of people have been coming onto the streets to protest the coup and at least 739 people have been killed.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the Myanmar military, is expected to join the summit.