Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of other ASEAN member states attended ASEAN leaders' interface with representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in Kuala Lumpur on May 26, on the occasion of the 46^th ASEAN Summit and related summits, hosted by Malaysia, the 2025 ASEAN Chair.

Delivering his remarks at the event, the Vietnamese Prime Minister described businesses as the "heart" of ASEAN growth.

He was quoted by the Government News as stating that over the past decade of ASEAN Community building, the business community has played a pioneering role in promoting innovation, growth and economic connectivity in the region.

He called on ASEAN-BAC to continue contributions to promoting business environment, strengthening supply chain connectivity, digital transformation and green transition in order to contribute to the realization of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The Vietnamese leader also called on ASEAN to renew traditional growth drivers while promoting new growth drivers, enhance global and regional supply chain connectivity in a bid to ensure ASEAN's strategic economic autonomy.

The Government of Vietnam commits to creating open institutions, smooth infrastructure and smart governance, work together with governments and businesses of other ASEAN countries to turn ASEAN into a dynamic, self-reliant, inclusive and sustainable economic entity that is resilient to external fluctuations, PM Chinh said.

During the interface, ASEAN-BAC representatives put forward priorities, including enhancing intra-bloc trade and investment, promoting economic connectivity, building a future of inclusivity and sustainability and digitally-empowered ASEAN.