The 37th ASEAN Summit was held via video conferencing on November 12 in which the State Counsellor attended from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.

Vietnam cultural troupe entertained the ASEAN leaders with dances and sang ASEAN songs at the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit. Afterwards, Vietnam president Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong delivered an opening speech and prime minister of Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered the opening remark.

It was chaired by Vietnam Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and attended by ASEAN leaders, secretariat of ASEAN and director-general of the World Health Organization.

During the meeting, ASEAN leaders discussed and exchanged views on implementations on building ASEAN community, external relations of ASEAN and its centrality,  ASEAN’s regional and international matters.

ASEAN leaders congratulated Vietnam Prime Minister for successfully leading ASAN in 2020 and also congratulated State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for her victory achieved in the recently held general election.

At the meeting, Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in her statement said that ASEAN needs to strengthen internal unity as well as external stability to effectively respond as the geographical condition is changing and tension between the superpower nations has increased. The State Counsellor added that it is crucial to strengthen the capability to maintain ASEAN unity and centrality.

In response to the discussion of Malaysia's prime minister, she said that the Myanmar Government is doing its best to ensure security, justice and communal harmony throughout the country. Emphasizing the need to work together to resolve the problem of the displaced persons, she highlighted that human trafficking remains a serious risk to the region as criminal activities could quickly adjust to the new normal caused by COVID-19 through misuse of technologies. She added that human trafficking must not be tolerated in any form nor must terrorism which is closely related to the Rakhine issue. As the terrorism has been greatly responsible for the disharmony among communities in Rakhine State, she stressed the need to end to the terrorist activities and propaganda which is ripping communities apart and work together in tackling such issues of mutual concern and interest.