Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi, Chair of the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (Photo: VNA)Pretoria (VNA) –Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi, who is also Chair of the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC), has written an article onthe occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN). Following is the full text of the article which waspublished on August 7 by Pretoria News in both print and online versions.
"August 8th iscelebrated among Southeast Asian countries as ASEAN Day, a time to reflect onhow far the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come since itsinception in August 8th, 1967 as well as its future prospects. To regionalcountries, including Vietnam, ASEAN plays a central role in ensuring peace,security and prosperity in an increasingly uncertain regional and globalsituation.
ASEANwas established on August 8th 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing ofthe ASEAN Declaration by its founding members, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Singapore and Thailand. The inclusion of Brunei (1984), Vietnam(1995), Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997) and Cambodia (1999) expanded ASEAN’s scope tothe whole of Southeast Asia, effectively transforming the region from the oneclouded by the Cold War era’s enmity and division to the one of dialogue, trustand unity.
Thesigning of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 1976,establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 and Southeast AsiaNuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995 solidified ASEAN’s status as aregion of peace, stability and cooperation. The formation of the ASEAN FreeTrade Area (AFTA) in 1992 as well as signing of Free Trade Agreements with keyeconomies such as China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia and NewZealand have brought about prosperity and development to ASEAN, making it oneof the most economically dynamic and connected regions in the world. In 2019,ASEAN is home to 650 million people with a total GDP of more than $3.2 trillionand a total trade turnover of more than $3 trillion.
Theyear 2015 marked an important milestone in ASEAN’s development with theestablishment of the ASEAN Community on December 31. The ASEAN Communityshowcases ASEAN’s political unity, economic integration and shared socialresponsibility. Today, ASEAN is widely regarded as a model for regionalcooperation. ASEAN-led mechanisms have gained widespread membership and arehighly regarded by major countries.
Asa member country, Vietnam has strived to make positive and concretecontributions to ASEAN. Immediately after joining the Association in 1995, Vietnamhas worked hard with other members to facilitate the inclusion of othercountries to realise the dream of an ASEAN that comprises all 10 SoutheastAsian nations. Vietnam has been an active, proactive and responsible member intaking part in ASEAN-related endeavors, including the greater institutionalisationof ASEAN via the ASEAN Charter (2008), building a roadmap for the ASEANCommunity (2009-2015), the post-2015 and post-2025 ASEAN Community Visions,implementation of ASEAN Community commitments in all three pillars:Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. Vietnamsuccessful hosted the 6th and 10th ASEAN Summits and is the current ASEAN Chairfor 2020. Vietnam has worked closely with ASEAN members and external partnersin spearheading initiatives such as expanding the East Asia Summit (EAS),establishing the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM ) mechanism as wellas maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture.
Today,Vietnam views ASEAN through three main prisms:
First,ASEAN is the foundation for Vietnam to pursue its foreign policy line ofmaintaining an external environment conducive to national development anddefense. Vietnam and ASEAN members have joined hands to build a Southeast Asiaregion of friendship, peace and noconflicts. Vietnam’s status as an ASEANmember has elevated its standing regionally and globally and has been integralin Vietnam’s efforts to form frameworks for cooperation such as strategic andcomprehensive partnerships with all neighboring countries, major powers andother important partners. Vietnam’s ascension to key economic groupings such asAPEC, ASEM, WTO, CPTPP, EVFTA... can also be partially attributed to prestigeas an ASEAN member.
Second,ASEAN is a bridge for Vietnam to harness international support in defending itssecurity and development interests, including sensitive issues such as theSouth China Sea issue. ASEAN provides an open and transparent venue for Vietnamand other countries in and beyond the region to engage in dialogue and interlockstrategic interests. In dealing with major countries, most of whom take part inASEAN-led mechanisms, small and medium-sized countries like Vietnam can utiliseASEAN’s role as an honest broker and impartial mediator to boost its ownleverage and bring international attention to issues not individually but as aunited front.
Third, ASEAN integration helps Vietnamstrengthen its own multilateral diplomacy. Vietnam’s success as an ASEAN memberhas paved the way for its success in other capacities such as a non-permanentmember of the United Nations Security Council (2008-2009, 2020-2021), APEC host(2006, 2017), etc. ASEAN has helped prepare Vietnam in its efforts toproactively take part in establishing international and regional “rules of theroad” to address global challenges from climate change or COVID-19 pandemic.
Onthe South China Sea issue, the Leader’s Vision Statement of the 36th ASEANSummit held on 26 June 2020 echoed the importance of “maintaining and promotingpeace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over-flightabove the South China Sea”, “mutual trust and confidence”, “dialogue andcooperation” and “support for a rules-based regional and international order,anchored in international law”. The Chairman’s Statement calls on parties toadhere to the “full and effective implementation” of the DOC and “maintain andpromote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations”. The latter alsorightfully affirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for “determining maritimeentitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests overmaritime zones” and “sets out the legal framework within which all activitiesin the oceans and seas must be carried out”. The statements serve as a timelyrebuke against opportunism and aggression in the South China Sea and those thattake advantage of the global and regional preoccupation with COVID-19 to carryout expansionist activities, threaten peace, stability and violateinternational law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
UnderVietnam’s Chairmanship, the 36th ASEAN Summit stands testament to theAssociation’s solidarity, cohesion, responsiveness and ability to quickly reachconsensus in both strategic directions and concrete actions. ASEAN has not onlymaintained its course but also shown flexibility in tackling early on and headon new issues and challenges. As uncertainty will likely continue to cloud overthe region in the foreseeable future, ASEAN’s unity, cooperation, solidarityand integration will be vital to the region’s future.
After more than five decades,ASEAN has achieved tremendous success as a regional organisation. As the globaland regional situation becomes more fast-changing and volatile, ASEAN mustremain steadfast in its commitment to building an ASEAN Community that isunited, resilient and strong. To do this, ASEAN must strive to strengthensolidarity through mutual interests and enhancing existing cooperationframeworks. The Association must create more favorable conditions conducive tothe members’ economic development and quickly adapt to new trends such as majorpower competition, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, pandemics, etc. Anotherimportant goal for ASEAN moving forward is to solidify and continue tostrengthen its centrality in the region. A united ASEAN is critical to itscentrality in the region and maintaining balanced and mutually beneficialrelations with major partners. For the bilateral relationship between ASEAN andSouth Africa, both sides will continue working closely for our peoples’ mutualbenefits. In 2020, with all efforts put by both sides, ASEAN desires to witnessSouth Africa’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in SoutheastAsia, which helps foster the bilateral relations deeply, substantially andeffectively."/.
"August 8th iscelebrated among Southeast Asian countries as ASEAN Day, a time to reflect onhow far the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come since itsinception in August 8th, 1967 as well as its future prospects. To regionalcountries, including Vietnam, ASEAN plays a central role in ensuring peace,security and prosperity in an increasingly uncertain regional and globalsituation.
ASEANwas established on August 8th 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing ofthe ASEAN Declaration by its founding members, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Singapore and Thailand. The inclusion of Brunei (1984), Vietnam(1995), Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997) and Cambodia (1999) expanded ASEAN’s scope tothe whole of Southeast Asia, effectively transforming the region from the oneclouded by the Cold War era’s enmity and division to the one of dialogue, trustand unity.
Thesigning of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 1976,establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 and Southeast AsiaNuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995 solidified ASEAN’s status as aregion of peace, stability and cooperation. The formation of the ASEAN FreeTrade Area (AFTA) in 1992 as well as signing of Free Trade Agreements with keyeconomies such as China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia and NewZealand have brought about prosperity and development to ASEAN, making it oneof the most economically dynamic and connected regions in the world. In 2019,ASEAN is home to 650 million people with a total GDP of more than $3.2 trillionand a total trade turnover of more than $3 trillion.
Theyear 2015 marked an important milestone in ASEAN’s development with theestablishment of the ASEAN Community on December 31. The ASEAN Communityshowcases ASEAN’s political unity, economic integration and shared socialresponsibility. Today, ASEAN is widely regarded as a model for regionalcooperation. ASEAN-led mechanisms have gained widespread membership and arehighly regarded by major countries.
Asa member country, Vietnam has strived to make positive and concretecontributions to ASEAN. Immediately after joining the Association in 1995, Vietnamhas worked hard with other members to facilitate the inclusion of othercountries to realise the dream of an ASEAN that comprises all 10 SoutheastAsian nations. Vietnam has been an active, proactive and responsible member intaking part in ASEAN-related endeavors, including the greater institutionalisationof ASEAN via the ASEAN Charter (2008), building a roadmap for the ASEANCommunity (2009-2015), the post-2015 and post-2025 ASEAN Community Visions,implementation of ASEAN Community commitments in all three pillars:Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. Vietnamsuccessful hosted the 6th and 10th ASEAN Summits and is the current ASEAN Chairfor 2020. Vietnam has worked closely with ASEAN members and external partnersin spearheading initiatives such as expanding the East Asia Summit (EAS),establishing the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM ) mechanism as wellas maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture.
Today,Vietnam views ASEAN through three main prisms:
First,ASEAN is the foundation for Vietnam to pursue its foreign policy line ofmaintaining an external environment conducive to national development anddefense. Vietnam and ASEAN members have joined hands to build a Southeast Asiaregion of friendship, peace and noconflicts. Vietnam’s status as an ASEANmember has elevated its standing regionally and globally and has been integralin Vietnam’s efforts to form frameworks for cooperation such as strategic andcomprehensive partnerships with all neighboring countries, major powers andother important partners. Vietnam’s ascension to key economic groupings such asAPEC, ASEM, WTO, CPTPP, EVFTA... can also be partially attributed to prestigeas an ASEAN member.
Second,ASEAN is a bridge for Vietnam to harness international support in defending itssecurity and development interests, including sensitive issues such as theSouth China Sea issue. ASEAN provides an open and transparent venue for Vietnamand other countries in and beyond the region to engage in dialogue and interlockstrategic interests. In dealing with major countries, most of whom take part inASEAN-led mechanisms, small and medium-sized countries like Vietnam can utiliseASEAN’s role as an honest broker and impartial mediator to boost its ownleverage and bring international attention to issues not individually but as aunited front.
Third, ASEAN integration helps Vietnamstrengthen its own multilateral diplomacy. Vietnam’s success as an ASEAN memberhas paved the way for its success in other capacities such as a non-permanentmember of the United Nations Security Council (2008-2009, 2020-2021), APEC host(2006, 2017), etc. ASEAN has helped prepare Vietnam in its efforts toproactively take part in establishing international and regional “rules of theroad” to address global challenges from climate change or COVID-19 pandemic.
Onthe South China Sea issue, the Leader’s Vision Statement of the 36th ASEANSummit held on 26 June 2020 echoed the importance of “maintaining and promotingpeace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over-flightabove the South China Sea”, “mutual trust and confidence”, “dialogue andcooperation” and “support for a rules-based regional and international order,anchored in international law”. The Chairman’s Statement calls on parties toadhere to the “full and effective implementation” of the DOC and “maintain andpromote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations”. The latter alsorightfully affirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for “determining maritimeentitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests overmaritime zones” and “sets out the legal framework within which all activitiesin the oceans and seas must be carried out”. The statements serve as a timelyrebuke against opportunism and aggression in the South China Sea and those thattake advantage of the global and regional preoccupation with COVID-19 to carryout expansionist activities, threaten peace, stability and violateinternational law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
UnderVietnam’s Chairmanship, the 36th ASEAN Summit stands testament to theAssociation’s solidarity, cohesion, responsiveness and ability to quickly reachconsensus in both strategic directions and concrete actions. ASEAN has not onlymaintained its course but also shown flexibility in tackling early on and headon new issues and challenges. As uncertainty will likely continue to cloud overthe region in the foreseeable future, ASEAN’s unity, cooperation, solidarityand integration will be vital to the region’s future.
After more than five decades,ASEAN has achieved tremendous success as a regional organisation. As the globaland regional situation becomes more fast-changing and volatile, ASEAN mustremain steadfast in its commitment to building an ASEAN Community that isunited, resilient and strong. To do this, ASEAN must strive to strengthensolidarity through mutual interests and enhancing existing cooperationframeworks. The Association must create more favorable conditions conducive tothe members’ economic development and quickly adapt to new trends such as majorpower competition, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, pandemics, etc. Anotherimportant goal for ASEAN moving forward is to solidify and continue tostrengthen its centrality in the region. A united ASEAN is critical to itscentrality in the region and maintaining balanced and mutually beneficialrelations with major partners. For the bilateral relationship between ASEAN andSouth Africa, both sides will continue working closely for our peoples’ mutualbenefits. In 2020, with all efforts put by both sides, ASEAN desires to witnessSouth Africa’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in SoutheastAsia, which helps foster the bilateral relations deeply, substantially andeffectively."/.
VNA
