Vietnam has successfully assumed the role of ASEAN Chair 2020. Photo: WVR

Comprehensive Contribution

In a speech to the press, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc once emphasized that ASEAN is one of Vietnam's top foreign priorities. Vietnam's imprint is clearly marked in the more than 50-year development process of ASEAN.

Over the past 26 years, since joining ASEAN (July 28, 1995), Vietnam has made very important contributions to the organization.

Firstly, as a country with the third largest population and fourth largest area in Southeast Asia, Vietnam's participation in ASEAN has helped the organization grow in terms of potential, scope as well as strength, ending suspicions, divisions and confrontations, opening a new era of development of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Second, Vietnam has actively participated in and contributed to the development of ASEAN's development orientation and major decisions such as the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

Third, Vietnam makes an active and responsible contribution to the implementation of ASEAN's common decisions. Vietnam participates in the full and extensive implementation of cooperation activities in the fields of politics - security, culture - society and economy, as well as presides over the organization of relevant events according to its membership obligations.

Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of implementation of ASEAN economic integration programs and measures.

Overcoming initial doubts, only three years after joining ASEAN, Vietnam successfully organized the sixth ASEAN Summit in Hanoi (December 1998), successfully fulfilling the role of ASEAN Chair 2010, creating an important premise for the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke at the Conference to summarize the Vietnam Year of the ASEAN Chair 2020. Photo: WVR

ASEAN 2020 - The pinnacle of victory

Vietnam assumes the role of ASEAN Chair 2020 in a relatively special year when the whole world has to fight a "common enemy" called Covid-19. However, with the theme of ASEAN 2020 - Cohesive and Adaptive, the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has been a comprehensive, complete and substantive success.

Speaking at the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 Conference in December 2020, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: "The comprehensive and resounding success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 is a successful culmination of the Party's multilateral foreign policy, giving us new vitality to confidently and proactively continue the process of extensive and effective international integration."

The Vietnamese leader emphasized that Vietnam's initiatives and priorities have become the common property of the region, and the method of organizing conferences initiated by Vietnam has become a good suggestion for countries to refer to. At the same time, the image of the ASEAN Community and Vietnam of peace, stability and development was widely promoted and forever remained in the minds of international friends.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on October 4. Photo: WVR

Always uphold the spirit of solidarity and unity

Entering 2021, especially when many countries in the region suffer from an extremely complicated wave of Covid-19, as an active and responsible member of the organization, Vietnam once again upholds solidarity, efforts with other countries to cooperate in fighting and recovering from the pandemic.

At the same time, Vietnam continues to actively and responsibly participate in the process of building the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025.

The spirit of solidarity and unity in ASEAN has been mentioned by Vietnam in many meetings of the organization.

At the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-54) in August and most recently AMM on October 4, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that solidarity and unity are the foundation for strength of ASEAN, especially in difficult times.

That spirit has been expressed throughout more than half a century and is clearly demonstrated in the current fight against Covid-19.

At ASEAN meetings, related to the Bien Dong Sea issue, Vietnam has reaffirmed the importance of promoting trust and confidence, exercising restraint, and peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with the international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

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