An ASEAN flag-raising ceremony (Photo: VNA)ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand,with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) byforeign ministers of its founding countries members, namely Indonesia,Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei joined the association in 1984. Vietnam became the 7th member ofthe bloc on July, 28, 1995. Laos and Myanmar were admitted to ASEAN onJuly 23, 1997. Cambodia became the 10th member of ASEAN onApril 30, 1999, fulfilling the dream of ASEAN that includes 10 SoutheastAsian nations.
After more than half a century of establishment and development, ASEAN hasalways steadily developed with outstanding achievements, bringing over 650million people in the region a peaceful and stable environment for development,and building a expanded cooperation for regional and outside countries.
So far, ASEAN has become a comprehensive regional cooperation organization,operating on the legal basis of the ASEAN Charter. Itscooperation activities have covered a wide range of areas such as politics,economy, and society in the region.
ASEAN member nations have step by step overcome barriers of history anddifferences, joining hands in promoting intra-bloc cooperation andconnectivity, towards realising common goals of peace, stability, cooperationand development in the region, contributing strengthening peace and cooperationin Asia Pacific.
The foundation for ASEAN’s achievements over the past 54 years are intra-groupcooperation mechanisms implemented through treaties, forums, conferences,projects, development programmes, the foundation of ASEAN Free TradeArea and regional cultural and sports activities.
ASEAN is currently facing unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemicas well as other non-traditional challenges, requiring ASEAN member countriesto unite and maintain the bloc’s central role in the region. They have havebeen working together to effectively solve common challenges of the region.
Speaking at the opening of the 54th ASEANForeign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-54) and related meetings held virtually fromAugust 2-6, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that solidarityand unity are the foundation for ASEAN’s strength, especially in difficulttimes, which is clearly demonstrated in the current fight against COVID-19.
In the face of serious socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, more than ever,ASEAN needs to strongly promote the internal strength of a resilient andcohesive Community, affirm its role and responsibility to the development ofthe region, he stated.
Despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 crisis, ASEAN has been makingprogress in building pillars and implementing the ASEAN Community Vision2025, the master plans for the ASEAN Community Vision2025 have been deployed evenly across the all pillars with significantlyresults.
ASEAN member countries have shown their unity on common issues in the region.In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting post-pandemic economicrecovery, they have affirmed their efforts to implement joint initiatives andcooperation plans in responding the pandemic.
ASEAN has received commitments of cooperation and support from its partners inthe fight against COVID-19, with an increasing number of vaccines for ASEANcountries and plans for economic recovery after the epidemic are being activelypromoted.
The ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund has so far received 20.8 million USDcontributed by the group’s member countries and partners.
The ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework is being implemented inaccordance withe the roadmap, with the determination not to break supplychains, and create the most favourable conditions for businesses tobe able to maintain trade and investment.
In particular, ASEAN has planned to promote digital transformation cooperation.ASEAN ministers in charge of digital cooperation approved a digitaltransformation plan until 2025.
On common issues of the region such as the Myanmar situation and the EastSea, ASEAN member countries reached high consensus on proposed solutions.
Over the last 26 years since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has become one of the activeand responsible members, actively contributing to maintaining peace andprosperity in the region, and building a people-centered ASEANCommunity.
During the times of assuming the rotating chairs of ASEAN, Vietnamactively played its leading role when introducing a series of initiativesand proposals.
In 2020, Vietnam's initiatives oncooperation in response to COVID-19 and promote post-pandemic recovery havebeen agreed upon and put into action by ASEAN members such as the ASEANCOVID-19 Response Fund, ASEAN Regional Reserve of MedicalSupplies for Public Health Emergencies, ASEAN Strategic Framework forPublic Health Emergencies, ASEAN comprehensive recovery framework andimplementation plan, and ASEAN Declaration on an ASEAN TravelCorridor Arrangement. These initiatives have contributed to helping ASEAN standfirm against the COVID-19 pandemic and recover soon, ensuring ASEAN'sdevelopment orientations.
Vietnam has shown its activeness and proactiveness in multilateralizingand diversifying its foreign relations in line with the need ofcooperation and development for peace and prosperity of the whole region./.
VNA
