(VOVWORLD) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, now the ASEAN Community, marked its 50th anniversary last year. Despite member countries’ different political systems, development levels, and cultural diversity, the organization obtained significant achievements over the past half a century. In the near future, the bloc will continue to promote consultation, consensus and unity to develop sustainably and inclusively despite fast-changing global geo-politics.
In the last 50 years, ASEAN has developed extensively and united the peoples of 10 member countries. Under its Vision toward 2025, the ASEAN Community aims to become a self-reliant, law-based, and people-centered community with a greater role in the region and the world.
Challenges in integration defined
The ASEAN Vision 2025 outlines opportunities for the ASEAN Community’s comprehensive development and extensive integration to be more self-reliant and influential in the region and the world. To seize these opportunities, ASEAN needs to overcome several challenges. Differences in the legal systems of member countries challenge ASEAN to develop a law-based Community because they hinder the signing of agreements. Former ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh: “Per capita income in ASEAN is 43 times higher in the richest country than in the poorest. The understanding of ASEAN people and enterprises remains limited. ASEAN supports globalization and trade liberalization, while many other countries including some of ASEAN’s partners going toward protectionism.”
Recent complications in the region such as unilateral actions in the East Sea that violate international law are threatening ASEAN’s solidarity and stability.
Efforts to realize Vision 2025
The ASEAN Community aims to be a community of solidarity, strength, and prosperity by rallying contributions of its members. Mr. Le Luong Minh again: "ASEAN countries need to accelerate the harmonization of the legal systems, balance immediate, short-term benefits with shared, long-term benefits of the whole community. They also need to mobilize internal strength and partner strength to effectively implement agreements and narrow development gaps.”
ASEAN plans to strengthen cooperation; develop standards, mechanisms and tools to cope with challenges; prevent conflicts; and settle disputes in line with international laws. It will also promote existing cooperative mechanisms including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, ASEAN+3, and ADMM+. ASEAN will continue to negotiate with China to finalize the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea to ease sovereignty disputes in the region.
Vietnam contributes to ASEAN cooperation
In the last 22 years, Vietnam has proactively and responsibly participated in ASEAN to help maintain and promote a rule-based, internationally legally compliant order in Southeast Asia. Vietnam gives priority to cooperation with other ASEAN countries and is committed to working with them to build a prosperous and united community.