(VOVWORLD) -ASEAN leaders are meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in their first in-person summit after a 2-year COVID-19 hiatus. High on the agenda are building the ASEAN Community and solidarity, ASEAN’s centrality, and the orientation of ASEAN’s relations with its partners.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other heads of state and government of ASEAN countries hold talks with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary General Assembly. Photo: thanhnien.vn
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Following a packed schedule of more than 20 activities in less than four days from Thursday to Sunday, leaders of ASEAN and their partners will consider and vote on 100 documents submitted to the summit.
Strengthened connectivity
In addition to the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits, there will be the ASEAN+1 Summit, the ASEAN+3 Summit, the East Asia Summit, and the 2nd ASEAN Global Dialogue. The summits are underway at a time when the regional and global economic and security situations are in dire need of a satisfactory solution reached by ASEAN leaders and partners. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity for ASEAN to continue affirming its centrality and ability to solve problems.
ASEAN has established close cooperative relations with all major countries and has 11 full dialogue partners – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, the US, Canada, the EU, and the UK.
Forums or mechanisms initiated and led by ASEAN have attracted partners’ participation in regional cooperation. They value cooperation with ASEAN both multilaterally and bilaterally, support ASEAN Community building, and back ASEAN’s centrality in an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture.
ASEAN has upgraded its relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with China and Australia in 2021, announced the establishment of a CSP with the US and India at the ongoing summits, and considered proposals of Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said: “We have shown that ASEAN is still standing tall and strong during the critical time of great uncertainties in the region and the world. As we uphold the ASEAN spirit of togetherness to consolidate our efforts to achieve our goal of building a resilient ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with belief that ASEAN can forge ahead with confidence.”
Vietnam’s role
Vietnam identifies cooperation between ASEAN and other countries as a priority of its foreign policy and makes proactive and responsible contributions in this regard. According to Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Vietnam plays a constructive role in the relationship between ASEAN and the EU. Vietnam has worked closely with ASEAN and contributed responsibly to its success and growing role. Norwegian Ambassador to ASEAN Kjell Tormod Pettersen said Vietnam has striven to find the most beneficial solutions for all members and the Association.
ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Economic Community Satvinder Singh said: “I feel that Vietnam is a very critical partner today for ASEAN integration. Domestically and naturally sometimes Vietnam faces some pressures from certain sectors because they are worried about market access and competition from outside. Personally I think Vietnam is one of those countries you should feel less worried about those issues than other countries just because you are very globally competitive. All your sectors are actually doing very well.”
ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi praised Vietnam’s part in elevating the Association’s position worldwide.
“Vietnam is a very active member of ASEAN and since joining it has contributed to the region's integration journey and community building process. During the Vietnam chairmanship in 1998, 2010, as well as 2 years ago in 2020, Vietnam displayed decisive leadership and steering the region toward the undertaking of important priorities. Particularly, Vietnam led ASEAN collective efforts especially during COVID-19 pandemic. As chair of 2020, Vietnam has done a lot of good things for women, especially in the policy making process and also women in security. Vietnam continues to be strong advocate for sub-regional development that will ever build long effects on regional integration as a whole. Over the past 27 years of ASEAN membership, Vietnam has raised ASEAN's profile in international field,” said the ASEAN Secretary General.