ASEAN was formed in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 8, 1967 (Source: asean.org) Hanoi (VNA) –With its goodwill, endeavours, enthusiasm and responsibility, Vietnam hassignificantly contributed to the common achievements of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh has written in an article marking the group’s 50th foundinganniversary.
In the article, DeputyPM Minh recalled the formation of ASEAN in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 8, 1967with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines as itsfounding members.
“ASEAN was born tocreate a firm foundation for common actions in order to enhance cooperation inSoutheast Asia in the spirit of equality and partnership, contributing to peaceand progress in the region,” he wrote.
After admitting Bruneiin 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999, ASEANnow brings together ten members. The first ASEAN Summit in 1976 demonstratedthe group’s greater attention and stronger political commitments to regionalcooperation.
The ASEAN Free TradeArea (AFTA), which was established in 1992 as the outcome of the first 25 yearsof economic cooperation of the group, has created an important foundation forthe establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.
Formed in 1994 in thespirit of promoting peace and security through dialogue and cooperation inAsia-Pacific, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) initiated dialogue andconsultation mechanisms on security and political issues in the region, the DeputyPM added.
He also recalled thesigning of the ASEAN Charter in 2007, turning ASEAN from a merely cooperationorganisation into a legal entity.
Despite closegeographical locations, the ASEAN member countries have different politicalsystems, cultures, languages and development levels. However, the gaps havebeen narrowed and the establishment of the ASEAN Community on December 31, 2015opened up a new chapter in history of ASEAN, bringing ASEAN cooperation to anew height.
Besides, ASEAN hasstepped up collaboration with countries outside the region in an effort to takeadvantage of practical support and assistance from partners, while consolidatingand maintaining its central role in the region, Deputy PM Minh wrote.
He stressed thatresults of parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy havecontributed to diversifying the picture of the ASEAN Community in the future.
The official alsopointed out a range of difficulties and challenges facing the group, caused byadverse impacts of competition between world powers as well as rapiddevelopments of the regional and international situation.
Against the backdrop,the Deputy PM underlined the need for the ASEAN member countries to makestronger political commitments, carry forward intra-bloc solidarity andconnectivity, seriously implement programmes and plans, respect commonprinciples and standards, and harmonise national with regional interests.
He highlightedVietnam’s 22-year membership in ASEAN, during which the country has made everyeffort to accelerate the admission of other Southeast Asian nations to thegroup, and contribute to defining development targets and orientations, andmaking decisions in ASEAN.
The official mentioned Vietnam’shallmarks in hosting the 6th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in December 1998 andassuming the Chair of the ASEAN Standing Committee in 2000-2001 and the ASEANChair in 2010.
Since the ASEANCommunity took shape at the end of 2015, Vietnam and other ASEAN membercountries have actively built the community, strictly implemented commitmentsand raised initiatives in many fields. Worthy of note, Vietnam is one of thetwo best performers in implementing priority measures set in the ASEAN EconomicCommunity Blueprint.
Vietnam has also madesignificant contributions to expanding and strengthening cooperation betweenASEAN and its partners, and successfully assumed the role of coordinator forrelations between ASEAN and China (2009-2012), ASEAN and the EU (2012-2015) andASEAN and India (2015-2018).
As an active member,Vietnam has played a key role in promoting solidarity and unity in ASEAN aswell as its central role, especially in maintaining peace and security to servethe region’s development and boosting cooperation in prioritised economic sectors.
The country has takenthe initiative in putting forth action plans and proposing initiatives andfeasible projects regarding social welfare, education, employment andenvironmental protection, aiming to raise people’s living standards.
Deputy PM Minh pledgedthat Vietnam will work harder to promote practical cooperation between ASEANand its major partners, and uphold the roles played by ASEAN and the countryitself in relations with countries and organisations worldwide.
ASEAN is of strategicsignificance to Vietnam, he stressed, adding that with the resolve to ensuresustainable development, for the interest of present and future generations,with people as the centre, it is hoped that the ASEAN Community would developsustainably and prosperously.-VNA
In the article, DeputyPM Minh recalled the formation of ASEAN in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 8, 1967with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines as itsfounding members.
“ASEAN was born tocreate a firm foundation for common actions in order to enhance cooperation inSoutheast Asia in the spirit of equality and partnership, contributing to peaceand progress in the region,” he wrote.
After admitting Bruneiin 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999, ASEANnow brings together ten members. The first ASEAN Summit in 1976 demonstratedthe group’s greater attention and stronger political commitments to regionalcooperation.
The ASEAN Free TradeArea (AFTA), which was established in 1992 as the outcome of the first 25 yearsof economic cooperation of the group, has created an important foundation forthe establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.
Formed in 1994 in thespirit of promoting peace and security through dialogue and cooperation inAsia-Pacific, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) initiated dialogue andconsultation mechanisms on security and political issues in the region, the DeputyPM added.
He also recalled thesigning of the ASEAN Charter in 2007, turning ASEAN from a merely cooperationorganisation into a legal entity.
Despite closegeographical locations, the ASEAN member countries have different politicalsystems, cultures, languages and development levels. However, the gaps havebeen narrowed and the establishment of the ASEAN Community on December 31, 2015opened up a new chapter in history of ASEAN, bringing ASEAN cooperation to anew height.
Besides, ASEAN hasstepped up collaboration with countries outside the region in an effort to takeadvantage of practical support and assistance from partners, while consolidatingand maintaining its central role in the region, Deputy PM Minh wrote.
He stressed thatresults of parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy havecontributed to diversifying the picture of the ASEAN Community in the future.
The official alsopointed out a range of difficulties and challenges facing the group, caused byadverse impacts of competition between world powers as well as rapiddevelopments of the regional and international situation.
Against the backdrop,the Deputy PM underlined the need for the ASEAN member countries to makestronger political commitments, carry forward intra-bloc solidarity andconnectivity, seriously implement programmes and plans, respect commonprinciples and standards, and harmonise national with regional interests.
He highlightedVietnam’s 22-year membership in ASEAN, during which the country has made everyeffort to accelerate the admission of other Southeast Asian nations to thegroup, and contribute to defining development targets and orientations, andmaking decisions in ASEAN.
The official mentioned Vietnam’shallmarks in hosting the 6th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in December 1998 andassuming the Chair of the ASEAN Standing Committee in 2000-2001 and the ASEANChair in 2010.
Since the ASEANCommunity took shape at the end of 2015, Vietnam and other ASEAN membercountries have actively built the community, strictly implemented commitmentsand raised initiatives in many fields. Worthy of note, Vietnam is one of thetwo best performers in implementing priority measures set in the ASEAN EconomicCommunity Blueprint.
Vietnam has also madesignificant contributions to expanding and strengthening cooperation betweenASEAN and its partners, and successfully assumed the role of coordinator forrelations between ASEAN and China (2009-2012), ASEAN and the EU (2012-2015) andASEAN and India (2015-2018).
As an active member,Vietnam has played a key role in promoting solidarity and unity in ASEAN aswell as its central role, especially in maintaining peace and security to servethe region’s development and boosting cooperation in prioritised economic sectors.
The country has takenthe initiative in putting forth action plans and proposing initiatives andfeasible projects regarding social welfare, education, employment andenvironmental protection, aiming to raise people’s living standards.
Deputy PM Minh pledgedthat Vietnam will work harder to promote practical cooperation between ASEANand its major partners, and uphold the roles played by ASEAN and the countryitself in relations with countries and organisations worldwide.
ASEAN is of strategicsignificance to Vietnam, he stressed, adding that with the resolve to ensuresustainable development, for the interest of present and future generations,with people as the centre, it is hoped that the ASEAN Community would developsustainably and prosperously.-VNA
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