Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN (Photo: VNA)The attendance is made at the invitation of IndonesianPresident Joko Widodo. The events will take place in Jakarta from September 4to 7, marking the culmination of Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2023. Inline with the chair’s theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, thesummit provides an opportunity for ASEAN leaders to discuss and chart thedirections for strengthening the ASEAN Community and making the bloc the focalpoint of growth amidst the complexities and changes in the current global andregional landscape.
Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) onJuly 28, 1995. Promoting its role as a nucleus for unity and cohesion, thecountry actively promoted the accession of Laos, Myanmar (in 1997), andCambodia (in 1999) to the bloc shortly after becoming a member. These effortscontributed to realising the idea of an ASEAN encompassing all 10 Southeast Asiancountries, creating a significant transformation within the organisation andthe regional situation at that time.
Vietnam has made substantial contributions to defining ASEAN’sgoals, development directions, and major policies, while playing a part inbuilding and passing several crucial documents such as the ASEAN Vision 2020,ASEAN Charter, and ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Given complex global andregional dynamics, Vietnam has participated in shaping the region's principlesand "rules of the game", joining ASEAN’s efforts to ensure peace,security, stability, dialogue, and cooperation. With other member states,Vietnam has proactively and vigorously promoted community-building across allpillars, from politics and economics to culture and society, with a strongemphasis on enhancing ASEAN connectivity and expanding relations with globalpartners.
The diplomat held that with its readiness, proactivity,responsibility, Vietnam has made significant contributions to the collectivesuccess of the bloc’s conferences this year. The message Vietnam wants toconvey is a spirit of solidarity and determination to make substantial andeffective contributions to building the ASEAN Community. This also highlightsthe consistent approach of the Vietnamese Party and State, considering ASEAN asan integral part of its foreign policy.
According to Bang, with the above-mentioned attitude,Vietnam has achieved several important results. Firstly, Vietnam consistently advocatesa united, cohesive, developed, strong ASEAN that serves as a nuclear force inmaintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific and IndianOcean.
Secondly, Vietnam has worked with other countries to advance the bloc’scommunity-building process, maintain unity, and uphold ASEAN's principledstance on international and regional issues.
Thirdly, Vietnam has promoted regional connectivity in termsof institutional mechanisms, infrastructure, and human connections, therebyunlocking cooperation potential and contributing to ASEAN's growth objectives.
Sharing insights into efforts and contributions of theVietnamese Delegation to ASEAN, the ambassador noted that from the beginning of2023, Vietnam was prepared to participate and effectively contribute to all blocactivities. As the lead agency responsible for negotiating many documentsthroughout the year, the Vietnamese Delegation has worked to proactively putforth initiatives. Other member countries highly valued and recognisedVietnam's contributions, which helped further enhancing its image, role, andposition within the bloc./.
VNA
