At the Retreat Session, the regional leaders noted that the conflict in the Middle East continues to impact energy and food supplies and prices, directly affecting production and people's livelihoods.
They agreed to enhance coordinated responses, diversify supply sources, and promote regional energy connectivity—including the early implementation of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) and the advancement of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG)—to ensure a stable energy supply for citizens and businesses.
Given rapid and profound global shifts, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their determination to firmly maintain solidarity and unity, strengthen cooperation, promote economic integration, enhance resilience, and improve coordinated crisis response, while expanding and deepening relations with external partners.
The leaders underscored the importance of adhering to international law, the ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and persevering in resolving disagreements and disputes through peaceful means.
They reaffirmed their shared stance and determination to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and actively push forward negotiations to soon conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
The leaders affirmed that ASEAN will continue to assist Myanmar in finding a peaceful and durable solution that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led, based on the Five-Point Consensus. They commended the efforts of the Philippines in its capacity as ASEAN Chair, and of Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, in engaging with relevant parties.
The leaders also welcomed progress in humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar and acknowledged the international community's support for ASEAN's efforts.
Addressing the Retreat Session, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized that ASEAN needs to be even more proactive and take the lead in shaping the regional strategic environment to ensure peace, security, and development.
In that spirit, Le called for consolidating trust and resolving differences through dialogue. He suggested ASEAN Member States coordinate closely and work with China to negotiate an effective and substantive COC in line with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982, contributing to building the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.
Regarding Myanmar, he suggested that ASEAN continue maintaining and expanding humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar, while considering adjustments to its approach for more effective and substantive engagement with Myanmar.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister called on ASEAN to proactively prevent and manage crises, and responding to shared challenges. He expressed support for ASEAN strengthening existing mechanisms to enhance rapid response capabilities to emergencies threatening regional peace and security.
Le affirmed that Viet Nam stands ready to coordinate with ASEAN countries to combat transnational crime—including online scams, cybercrime, and human trafficking—while promoting safe and responsible governance of artificial intelligence.
Prime Minister Le also called on ASEAN to proactively lead cooperation with partners, shifting from a mindset of maintaining centrality to actively shaping centrality. He proposed that ASEAN develop a strategic cooperation roadmap with partners, focusing on areas that deliver practical benefits to the people, including trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, strategic infrastructure, and high-quality human resource development.
At the same time, ASEAN should maintain balanced relations with partners and encourage major powers to act responsibly and contribute to the region's shared peace and prosperity, Le said./.