(VOVWORLD) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has recorded significant achievements over the past half century, creating an environment of peace and stability for development and cooperation inside and outside the region. Vietnam is proud to contribute to ASEAN’s constant growth and to building a global ASEAN Community and realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
ASEAN, established in 1967 in Jakarta, has proved to be a strong organization with extensive links and indispensable partnership with the rest of the world.
ASEAN’s economic development and role strengthened
Last year ASEAN’s GDP grew 5%, maintaining a stable trend. In the face of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the bloc agreed to establish the ASEAN smart city network, linking 26 piloted cities. Negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement (RCEP) made progress, sending a strong and clear signal of ASEAN’s commitment to multilateral trade amidst rising anti-globalization.
ASEAN clearly demonstrated its central role in partnership with other organizations and regions and in mediating disputes. Vu Ho, Director of ASEAN Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The ASEAN community has created an environment for big countries to come to discuss arising issues. ASEAN has become an attraction of partners and a forum of global issues. The organization has been trying to build a law-based regional structure, which respects international law and uphold the universal value of international law. This can be seen in the way ASEAN works with the outsiders and the formulation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to maintain peace and stability and manage disputes and conflicts in the region.”
The ASEAN Community Vision is built on the basis of three major plans of action on politics-security, culture-society, and economics. They are lodestars for member countries’ mode of operation and leverage for ASEAN’s further growth by 2025 and beyond.
Vietnam contributes to building ASEAN Community
Since joining ASEAN 24 years ago, Vietnam has prioritized the bloc in its foreign policy. The 12th National Party Congress repeated Vietnam’s motto of “proactively and responsibly working with ASEAN on building a strong community.” ASEAN’s success in 2018 was partly contributed by Vietnam, who hosted the World Economic Forum-ASEAN meetings to create momentum for regional economic growth.
In 2020 Vietnam will assume ASEAN Chair, an opportunity for the country to push for the bloc’s stronger community and higher prestige worldwide. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told a meeting to launch the National ASEAN Committee in late December:“Vietnam’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020 will be very important to mid-term review and further steps to complete the building of the ASEAN Community by 2025. The event will create new opportunities for Vietnam to maximize its potentials and elevate national position and image. Vietnam respects, looks forward to, and is ready to do its utmost to make the ASEAN Year 2020 a success.”
Vietnam has upheld its role by strengthening practical cooperation to bring about concrete benefits to each member country’s people. Vietnam upholds solidarity, unity, and principles, which have constituted ASEAN’s identities and successes.