The 36th ASEAN Summit is expected to take place via video conference in Hanoi on Friday, June 26. The summit was originally scheduled from April 6 to April 9 in Da Nang but was postponed for nearly two months due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister has said in a press briefing on Tuesday (June 23) that the summit will be the first official summit hosted by Vietnam as ASEAN 2020 Chair and the 36th ASEAN Summit will focus on the development of the ASEAN Community in the immediate future and measures to address the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

“What has happened in reality will be put on the table, because every ASEAN meeting has a part for discussing regional and international issues,” he added.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam, will chair the opening session, plenary session and dialogue among leaders of ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).

At the plenary session, participants will hear reports and give opinions on cooperation among ASEAN member nations in the three main measures of ASEAN Community i.e. economics, political security and socio-cultural issues.

Moreover, all leaders of ASEAN are expected to adopt three statements and declaration at the 36th ASEAN Summit. The documents include the Chairman’s Statement of the 36th ASEAN Summit, the Vision Statement on Cohesive & Responsive ASEAN and the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work.