Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (fourth, left) and other ASEAN leaders at the 42rd ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)In the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), Vietnam has shown activeengagement in building and approving basic documents, laying the foundation forthe development of the community. They include the Declaration of ASEAN Concord(Bali Concord II) in 2003, and the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint2025 in 2016, said Hai.
Hai highlighted the core goals of the APSC in building a rule-based,people-oriented and people-centred community, ensuring a region of peace,security and stability, promoting the association’s centrality andstrengthening institutional capacity and the presence of the association.
He held that Vietnam has made great efforts to realise these goals, includingthe country’s upholding of the UN Charter and international law, he said,adding that this is suitable and consistent with Vietnam’s stance in buildingthe ASEAN Charter.
The expert commented that Vietnam has shown strong performance in coordinatingrelations between ASEAN and its partners and representing the association inthe forums.
Particularly, during its second term as a non-permanent member at the UNSecurity Council, Vietnam pushed the organisation of the council’s firstdiscussion on the UN-ASEAN partnership and promoted the role and presence ofthe ASEAN in the council in settling regional issues.
Vietnam has actively and intensively engaged in the settlement ofnon-traditional security issues through its participation in ASEAN andASEAN-led mechanisms, especially in the areas of conflict prevention,counter-terrorism, transnational crime prevention and combat, cybersecurity, and ensuring maritime security as well as rescue and humanitarianassistance, said Hai.
Regarding the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Hai underlined that Vietnam haspledged to carry out 95.5% of the commitments in the community’s blueprint,becoming one of the ASEAN members with the highest commitment implementationratio only after Singapore.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2010, Vietnam successfully called on all members to issuea joint statement on recovery and sustainable development, affirming thecountry’s determination to build and reinforce the community.
Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai (R) grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency's correspondent in Sydney. (Photo: VNA)Hai added that Vietnam is not only a foreign direct investment (FDI) magnetwith a dynamic economy, but also a bridge and a gateway for investors to enterASEAN.
Regarding the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Vietnam acted as a pioneerin building the idea of forming the community, the expert noted. As the ASEANChair in 2010, Vietnam initiated and chaired the building of two importantdocuments – the Hanoi Declaration on the Enhancement of Welfare and Developmentof ASEAN Women and Children, and ASEAN Leaders Statement on Human Resources andSkills Development for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth, which arepriorities of the ASCC.
In 2020, as the ASEAN Chair for the second time, Vietnam chaired the build ofthe ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the ASCC Blueprint 2025, which aresignificant for the development of the community in the future.
According to Hai, Vietnam’s contributions are also shown by its hosting of manyimportant events of the ASCC.
Vietnam has maintained its motto of being proactive, active and responsible inmaking contributions to the growth of ASEAN, which is a consistent policy ofVietnam towards the association, Hai emphasised./.
VNA
