Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech on the 53rd anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 25th anniversary of Vietnam's ASEAN membership, on August 8, 2020. (Photo: Thong Nhat /VNA)

Prime Minister said that in 53 years of establishment and development, ASEAN has truly become an organization that represents regional countries, unites in friendly neighborliness and cooperation, mutual respect and understanding, and strives for peace, progress, and prosperity of the people.

25 years ago, Vietnam joined ASEAN. A new journey has been opened, taking Vietnam into the process of extensive regional and global integration.

Embracing the spirit of "Cohesion and Proactive Adaptation", the Prime Minister emphasized that as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam gives high priority to promoting solidarity, unity, and effective coordination in ASEAN as well as strengthening relations with partners to enhance ASEAN's resilience and capacity to respond to unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 epidemic and the fierce competition of the global and regional geostrategic environment, in which the rule of law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, must be respected. Overcoming current difficulties and challenges, together with other ASEAN members, Vietnam continues to promote the successful implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the development orientation of the ASEAN Community after 2025, enhance the position of ASEAN, and promote its role to  contribute to peace, security and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that ASEAN has always been one of the important pillars of Vietnam's foreign policy. A united, strong, prosperous and resilient ASEAN community with higher international role and status is a shared interest. Vietnam has and will try its best, together with other ASEAN members, to contribute to the successful realization of this lofty goal.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by the five original members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The bloc has to date expanded  to 10 members.