Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith grants an interview to Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam has shown its capacity innot only leading ASEAN but also solving emerging issues in the region and theworld, which is a clear demonstration of its outstanding role as the ASEAN Chair in2020, according to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.
Talking to Vietnam News Agency about Vietnam’s contributionsand role during its 25-year membership of ASEAN, the minister said the country's becoming a member of this bloc on July 28, 1995, paved the way for other nationslike Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia to join the grouping and for ASEAN from an associationof countries with similar political systems to become the one for countries tocooperate, regardless of their political differences.
As a populous country, Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN hashelped the bloc expand its market, thus helping with the socio-economic developmentof member nations and the generation of benefits for all regional countries.
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He held that Vietnam's ASEAN membership has hadimportant contributions in terms of politics, economy and cooperation, noting that overthe last 25 years, the country has served in the ASEAN chairmanship thrice andmade substantial contributions as both the Chair and a member of the bloc.
Kommasith highlighted the significance of the 2020 ASEANchairmanship, which is themed “Cohesive and Responsive”, noting that Vietnamhas been exerting utmost efforts to promote the cohesion, solidarity andunanimity within the grouping, which he believed are critically important asASEAN is currently one of the international organisations that many countriesaround the world, especially superpowers and developed ones, wish to enhancerelations with.
For “Responsive”, he said this orientation is greatly suitablefor what are happening now in the region and the world, and the theme and initiativesissued by Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair, during the first half of 2020 extremely match the reality.
Although this year marks the first time in the history that ASEANmeetings have been held online due to COVID-19, Vietnam has so far done a goodjob in its position as the ASEAN Chair, he said.
The country’s role has been reflected via not only its ASEANchairmanship but also its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Councilfor 2020-2021.
It showed an outstanding role right in January, when it concurrentlyserved as the ASEAN Chair and the UN Security Council President. Despite numerousdifficulties, Vietnam still managed to perform tasks in these posts, accordingto the Lao official./.
Kommasith highlighted the significance of the 2020 ASEANchairmanship, which is themed “Cohesive and Responsive”, noting that Vietnamhas been exerting utmost efforts to promote the cohesion, solidarity andunanimity within the grouping, which he believed are critically important asASEAN is currently one of the international organisations that many countriesaround the world, especially superpowers and developed ones, wish to enhancerelations with.
For “Responsive”, he said this orientation is greatly suitablefor what are happening now in the region and the world, and the theme and initiativesissued by Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair, during the first half of 2020 extremely match the reality.
Although this year marks the first time in the history that ASEANmeetings have been held online due to COVID-19, Vietnam has so far done a goodjob in its position as the ASEAN Chair, he said.
The country’s role has been reflected via not only its ASEANchairmanship but also its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Councilfor 2020-2021.
It showed an outstanding role right in January, when it concurrentlyserved as the ASEAN Chair and the UN Security Council President. Despite numerousdifficulties, Vietnam still managed to perform tasks in these posts, accordingto the Lao official./.
VNA
