Illustrative image (Source: asean.usmission.gov) Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen QuocDung said with a 625 million population, ASEAN has a total gross domesticproduct of nearly 3 trillion USD, ranking seventh worldwide. The bloc records atotal annual trade of more than 1 trillion USD and free trade agreements withmajor regional partners.
Discussing roadmap for the next five decades, scholarsshared view that ASEAN also faces challenges such as the fourth industrial revolutionand protectionism trend, which requires the bloc to stand united and respond tothem.
To achieve goals of the ASEAN Community, which was born onDecember 31, 2015, Ambassador Claro Suarez Cristobal, Director of the PhilippineForeign Service Institute, suggested investing in human development,particularly young generations, by facilitating creativity and improving theirtechnological know-how.
According to Dung, ASEAN must seek solutions to achievingthe goals of building a strong community that brings practical benefits to thepeople, improve ASEAN’s central role in the region and its voice in the world,boosting internal economic connectivity and trade, enhance the bloc’scompetitiveness, and promote social welfares.
In order to continue ASEAN’s central role in promotingsecurity cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, Prof. Suchit Bunbongkarn from the ThailandInstitute of Security and International Studies suggested enhancing memberstates’ capacity in political and socio-economic fields.
Leaders of ASEAN member countries should make strongcommitments to regional interests, particularly those regarding peace andstability, make political commitments to ASEAN’s interests as well as encouragethe public involvement in peace and security stability, he said.
The event was co-organised by the Diplomatic Academy ofVietnam, the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the KonradAdenauer Stiftung Vietnam.-VNA
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