Choi Shing Kwok, Director of Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and head of the ASEAN Studies Centre under ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. (Photo courtesy of Choi Shing Kwok)
Singapore (VNA) - Vietnam has performedremarkably well as Chair of ASEAN in the face of all the obstacles and hurdles,said Choi Shing Kwok, Director of Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute andhead of the ASEAN Studies Centre under ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
Choi told the Vietnam News Agencythat as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam ensured that equal attention was given todiscussions on the immediate pandemic response and the longer-termpost-pandemic recovery plans.
Apart from the COVID-19 ASEANResponse Fund, one of the earliest mechanisms developed to deal with theimmediate health challenges, the grouping has also formulated an ASEANComprehensive Recovery Framework to guide the region into post-pandemicrecovery action.
Vietnam has not lost sight of theother important ongoing issues such as climate change, economic cooperation,sustainable growth, digitalisation and the East Sea.
As the pandemic spread and countries had to closetheir borders in March, Vietnam took the initiative to pivot to a virtual modeof conducting meetings at various levels – SOM, Ministerial and Summit to keepup the momentum.
The format of the meetings became more effective asofficials grew more accustomed to the online mode of engagement, which overcamethe obstacles and saved time but also resulted in new dynamics.
Regarding the 37th ASEAN Summit andrelated meetings, slated for November 12-15, Choi said the summit is going tobe overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Southeast Asia, which accounts for only 2 percent ofglobal COVID-19 cases and 1 percent of fatalities, has fared comparably well inmanaging the pandemic on the whole.
However, the pandemic has still severely impactedlives and livelihoods in the region, particularly for the most vulnerablesegments of the populations. Apart from the direct health and socio-economicdamage caused by COVID-19, increased external geo-political competition hasalso affected the region while some ASEAN member states likeThailand, Malaysia and Myanmar have also experienced domestic politicaluncertainties alongside the pandemic.
At the same time, there have been some silverlinings emerge in Southeast Asia. Global supply chains are increasinglypivoting to the region in an acceleration of the diversification and relocationtrends that were already emerging prior to the pandemic.
The region’s emerging economies, such as Malaysia,Thailand and Vietnam, are poised to reap these benefits. COVID-19 has alsoaccelerated Southeast Asia’s digitalisation push, with companies making theshift to doing business online and governments allocating budgets to aidbusinesses in their transformation efforts.
Given this, the 37th ASEAN Summit will lead the region in dealing with this challenging conditionand also help chart a path for countries and for the region to move through it,Choi believed.
Asked about the possibility ofsigning the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at the 37th ASEANSummit, the expert said the RCEP negotiations have been proceeding smoothly.
“We understand that the possibility of signingthe RCEP at the 37th ASEAN Summit is high,” he said. “The signing will bea much-needed boost of morale to many in this region as we continue to battlethe economic downturn brought on by the pandemic and also show that the regionis determined to build back better in the face of ongoing challenges tomultilateral trade.”/.
