“ASEAN is making efforts to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. To achieve the set goals, in addition to promoting intra-regional cooperation, it’s important to strengthen OECD-ASEAN relations by tapping the potentials and strengths of both sides,” said Minh.

He said he strongly believes that this Forum will present comprehensive and highly feasible solutions to strengthen the OECD-ASEAN relationship for peace, stability, cooperation, and development of the two regions and the world.

Themed "Connecting Regions: Partnership for Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains," the Forum explored ways the OECD and ASEAN can improve the resilience of their supply chains to better adapt to future shocks and lay the foundation for a greener digital future.

Mr. Minh suggested stepping up supply chain cooperation, and use of existing economic networks. He called on the OECD to help Southeast Asia upgrade infrastructure, make ASEAN a logistics centre, increase the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises, develop policy institutions, and improve national governance capacity.

Mr Minh said he hopes the OECD will assist ASEAN in human resource training toward making the region a global supply center. Maintaining a stable environment and ensuring the circulation of goods through international waters, including the East Sea, is both a right and a responsibility of all countries, Mr. Minh said.