Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) chairs a press conference following the 36th ASEAN Summit on June 26 (Photo: VNA)Bangkok (VNA) - Vietnam has beenplaying an active role in building a common community in ASEAN since it becamea member of the bloc and has increased its stature in recent years, accordingto Dr Balazs Szanto from the Webster University Thailand.
Vietnam was officially admitted into ASEAN atthe 28th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brunei on July 28, 1995.
A coordinator of the Master of Arts in the InternationalRelations programme, Szanto told Vietnam News Agency that Vietnam has proposedmany constructive and feasible initiatives to contribute to building the ASEANCommunity.
He said 2020 is full of challenges for the worldand the region, with many emerging problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic anddisruptions to developed economies, so Vietnam’s chairmanship of ASEAN thisyear is also full of difficulties.
Facing that fact, Vietnam will continue to demonstrateits guiding role at the regional forum, including in promoting a unanimous viewregarding emerging regional issues, according to Szanto.
He noted that after the pandemic, many membercountries will likely focus on their own interests, including recovering theireconomies, which has triggered concern over the bloc’s solidarity, unanimity,and capacity to take collective action.
However, he believes that as the ASEAN Chair in2020, Vietnam will create a mechanism for promoting common prosperity amongmember nations so that no one is left behind.
In terms of regional maritime security, Szantosaid Vietnam has maintained its important role in this regard and expected itto secure a unanimous voice in ASEAN so as to form a foundation for resolvingdisputes in the East Sea peacefully on the basis of international law./.
VNA
