Vientiane (VNA) - Under the leadership of Vietnam as ASEAN 2020Chair, ASEAN has fulfilled all of its set goals, initiatives and priorities despitefacing many great challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LaoDeputy Foreign Minister Thongphan Savanphet.

Thongphan Savanphet, who is also head of Laos’ ASEAN SOM, made the remark whilegranting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency correspodent in Vientianeahead of the 37th ASEAN Summit and related summits scheduled forNovember 12-15.

Congratulating Vietnam on the successes and outcomesit has made as Chair of ASEAN 2020, he said prior to the COVID-19 outbreak,ASEAN set a number of priorities, including assessing the Blueprints of the threepillars, discussing the ASEAN Vision 2025, or exchanging other issues to createmore cohesion for development and narrowing the development gap between ASEAN membercountries.

ASEAN has also continued to boost activities to promote the bloc's identity,such as the use of the ASEAN flag at the offices of the member countries, orthe use of the ASEAN anthem, he added.

After the COVID-19 broke out, ASEAN has launched many initiatives such as theestablishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and the  ASEAN RegionalReserve of Medical Supplies.

In addition, the ASEAN countries discussed a cooperation framework to restorethe economy or open "special green lanes" for tourism, while exchangingwith Japan on the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for emerging diseases and public healthemergencies. They also discussed andannounced other documents planned during the period.

Accordingto Thongphan Savanphet, more than 80 documents are expected to be approved,recognised and announced at the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings. This isthe largest number of documents ever to be released, proving that despitefacing the huge challenges in 2020, under the chairmanship of Vietnam, allplans and initiatives launched by ASEAN have all been completed with highefficiency.

Whenasked about some of the issues expected to be discussed at the 37th ASEANSummit, he said that the prominent issue at this summit would be cooperation toprevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, restore the economy or deal with thesocio-economic impacts in each member country.

Besides, the ASEAN leaders may discuss future cooperation, including joint researchon how to access COVID-19 vaccines in all member countries when vaccines are available;and ways to build a strong ASEAN Community, especially the implementation ofthe ASEAN Vision 2025 or the Blueprints of ASEAN’s three pillars, including thePolitical-Security Community, the Economic Community and the Socio-CulturalCommunity.

They will also look into relations with non-ASEAN countries as well as regionaland international issues, including the Korean Peninsula issue, climate change,and enhancement of women’s role.

Commenting onVietnam's contributions during the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, the Laoofficial said that Vietnam has had many useful initiatives for ASEAN, such as strengtheningASEAN community cohesion, reassessing the Blueprints as well as the performanceof the role of ASEAN, and discussing measures to narrow the development gapamong the member nations.

Especially, during the period of COVID-19 spreading, Vietnam actively put forthmany initiatives to consult and exchange experience with not only ASEANcountries but also outside partners on how to cooperate in preventing andcoping with the pandemic and restoring the ASEAN economy for future growth.

Thongphan Savanphet concluded that Vietnam’s great contributions during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 have contributed to protecting peace, stability anddevelopment of ASEAN, helping the grouping stay united and continue to maintainits central role in cooperation with other countries outside, while creatingmore cohesion and solidarity in the bloc.

Vietnamhas successfully assumed the roles of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of theUN Security Council in 2020, thereby proving its position on the internationalarena, he said, adding that the country has also helped strengthen ASEAN's roleby inviting the ASEAN Secretary-General to address a meeting of the council.

This is another demonstration of Vietnam's leadership role at the regional andworld forums, affirmed the Lao Deputy FM./.