(VOVWORLD) - July 28th marks the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership. Over the last 25 years Vietnam has been an active and responsible member and made important contributions to a strong ASEAN and its higher status internationally.
Becoming an ASEAN member was a turning point for Vietnam to open and reform its economy, integrate into the world, and befriend all countries. Vietnam has contributed to strengthening ASEAN’s status in the region and gaining more partners outside the bloc.
Vietnam’s contributions to building an ASEAN Community
Vietnam’s joining ASEAN in 1995 was widely seen as a landmark ending a period of division in Southeast Asia and encouraging Cambodia and Myanmar to also join ASEAN.
Vietnam has contributed to ASEAN’s political stability and growth. It has started several initiatives and supported ASEAN’s programs. When Vietnam took the role of ASEAN Chair for the first time in 1998, it initiated the Hanoi Action Program to recover from the global financial crisis and narrow the development gap between member countries.
During its second ASEAN Chair tenure in 2010, Vietnam advocated an “action culture” with the motto “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”. As the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam has continued to promote this goal under the theme “Cohesive and Responsive”.
Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said: “In this period ASEAN is one international organization that many countries want to strengthen their partnership with. ASEAN’s cohesion, consensus, and constructive outlook have attracted foreign cooperation. Vietnam is leading ASEAN to greater internal unity.”
Vietnam had made its mark on ASEAN’s development and shared its lessons in building ASEAN’s long-term strategy. ASEAN has consistently upheld the principles of consensus and narrowing development gaps for balanced growth among members.
Promoting ASEAN’s external relations
Vietnam has shared its lessons in bilateral and multilateral external relations to help ASEAN promote its relations with partners. Professor Carl Thayer of Australia’s New South Wales University, said that Vietnam’s external policies of diversification and multilateralization and bilateral diplomatic experience have been applied to help ASEAN promote its relationship with dialogue partners, including Russia and India.
 Professor Carl Thayer of Australia’s New South Wales University in an interviewed with VOV |
Vietnam is a founding member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and the host of the 1st ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in 2010. Vietnam backed Russia and the US to join the East Asia Summit.
Vietnam has high regard for ASEAN’s mechanisms and approaches to disputes in the South China Sea, known as the East Sea in Vietnam. Vietnam is a driver of ASEAN unity on South China Sea issues.
Vietnam’s ASEAN membership has resulted in major national changes and elevated ASEAN’s status internationally. Mutual benefit will drive Vietnam’s future contributions to ASEAN.