The summit has been delayed twice in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth”, the 13th ASEM Summit will discuss management of challenges posed by COVID-19 and post-pandemic economic recovery.

Cambodia has prepared three draft documents to be submitted to the summit for approval, including a Phnom Penh Statement on the Post-Covid-19 Socio-Economic Recovery.

Over the past 25 years since joining ASEM, Viet Nam has always been an active, dynamic and responsible member of, and has made outstanding contributions to the forum.

The country has made many outstanding contributions to ASEM, including successfully hosting the 5th ASEM Summit (2004), five Ministerial Conferences in economic fields (2001), information technology (2006), diplomacy (2009), education (2009), labor (2012), and implementing many initiatives in specialized areas that are prioritized by ASEM.

Viet Nam also participated twice in the proposal and promotion of expanding ASEM membership (ASEM 5, 2004 and the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting, 2009). Together with ASEM members, it joined in  passing many important documents and decision orientations in the process of ASEM cooperation, such as "Ha Noi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership", "ASEM Declaration on Dialogue Between Cultures and Civilizations", and "Recommendations on improving ASEM operations" (2004).

So far, Vietnam is considered one of the most active members of the forum, proposing 29 initiatives and co-sponsoring 31 initiatives in practical areas with localities, businesses and people, such as culture, health, transportation, energy security, food security, climate change and science - technology./.