Vietnam & ASEAN: from past to dynamic future

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) membership (1995-2010), Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem wrote an important article that was published on Vietnam+ of the Vietnam News Agency.

He wrote: In the past 15 years, Vietnam has taken active part in and made important contributions to ASEAN’s cooperation areas while working together with other member states to set a new course of development for ASEAN, thereby strengthening regional solidarity and cooperation, raising the association’s profile globally.

Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995 and this event was considered a milestone in the development process of the association. Shortly after that, Vietnam worked hard to promote the admission of Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia to ASEAN, realizing the goal of forming a 10-member bloc in Southeast Asia and opening up a new chapter for cooperation in the region.

Vietnam has showed its role in ASEAN by organizing important events and participating in making big policies of the association. Three years after joining the association, Vietnam hosted the sixth ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in December 1998, leaving deep impressions in the minds of ASEAN and international friends.

In 2010, Vietnam plays the role of the Chair of ASEAN for the second time since it joined the association. Under the theme Towards an ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action, Vietnam is making every effort to coordinate activities and work out specific measures to effectively implement the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Community Roadmap, while at the same time broadening and deepening comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners and consolidating the association’s central role in the regional cooperation process in circumstances of an evolving regional architecture.

The success of the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in April 2010 and the freshly concluded 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and related meetings that took place in Hanoi in July 2010 testified to Vietnam’s efforts to realize the goal of the ASEAN Community.

Joining ASEAN – A correct decision

Results show that Vietnam’s admission to ASEAN was a timely and correct decision of historical and strategic significance. ASEAN membership did and will bring important and practical benefits to the country in terms of politics-security, economics, culture-social affairs and diplomacy. Overall, it has created a favorable environment for national construction and defense, as well as supporting Vietnam in regional and global integration.

Joining intra-bloc economic links and free trade areas between ASEAN and its partners has enabled Vietnam to attract foreign investment and explore potential markets in the region and the rest of the world.

Membership has created opportunities for Vietnam to expand relations with non-ASEAN countries, especially several global economic powers, and take a stronger role in inter-regional cooperation institutions such as ASEAN +3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), thus improving the position of Vietnam on the international arena.

An active, responsible ASEAN member

For Vietnam, Southeast Asia and ASEAN have a strategic position because this region relates directly to the country’s security and development environment. Vietnam is aware that a closely integrated and united ASEAN with an increased international role serves the country’s fundamental and long-term interests.

Entering the new era, Vietnam continues to take part in regional cooperation in an active, positive and responsible manner. It is active in putting forward new initiatives to boost ASEAN cooperation and integration.

It is collaborating with ASEAN to deal with difficulties and challenges to maintain the vitality and value of the association in the new situation.

It is also working with ASEAN to fully implement agreements and commitments, with priority given to successfully building a strong and united ASEAN community.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem appealed: Following the guidelines of the Government, Vietnam must intensify coordination between relevant ministries and departments. In addition,Vietnam must increase propaganda on ASEAN and the involvement of Vietnam in ASEAN’s activities in order to improve the awareness of State officials, people and businesses and encourage them to contribute to building the ASEAN Community.

Presently, Vietnam is making every effort to fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair in 2010, contribute to concretizing the objectives of the ASEAN Community, elevate its profile regionally and internationally, and highlight the image of a renovated and dynamic Vietnam. As an inseparable part of ASEAN, Vietnam is committed to working closer together with ASEAN to achieve its goals for a bright future of the ASEAN Community. – VEN

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