| Vietnam raises its profile in ASEAN | |
Fourteen years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Now it has become a reliable partner of all member countries. Vietnam will officially take on the ASEAN presidency in 2010. The assistant to the Foreign Minister and the Head of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) ASEAN Vietnam Group, Pham Quang Vinh talked about Vietnam’s role in ASEAN. What is your assessment of Vietnam’s contributions to ASEAN after 14 years of joining this organisation?
Over the past 14 years, Vietnam has greatly contributed to the development of ASEAN. First, Vietnam has enhanced solidarity and cooperation within ASEAN based on the organisation’s fundamental principles. Second, the country has expanded the framework of ASEAN cooperation, creating stronger links between the 10 member nations. The country’s hosting of the ASEAN summit in Hanoi in 1998 acknowledged the organisation’s efforts to narrow the development gaps and promote sub-regional links, including the East-West corridor initiative.
In particular, the Hanoi Declaration and the East-West corridor initiative have helped ASEAN to continue developing closer cooperative ties. Third, Vietnam has joined in ASEAN’s concerted efforts for the sake of peace, stability and cooperation in the region which has been demonstrated in the implementation of important ASEAN agreements such as the Agreement on Friendly Neighbourliness in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon- Free Zone Treaty and the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (South China Sea) between ASEAN and China. Fourth, Vietnam has helped to enhance the ASEAN community based on the three pillars of the economy, political security, and socio-culture. Vietnam, right from the beginning, got involved in the building of the ASEAN Charter adopted in November 2007. It has worked closely with other ASEAN member countries to finalise the legal framework, regulations and other procedures relating to the Charter to bring it to life.
How has Vietnam benefited from ASEAN?
Joining ASEAN has created a favourable environment in terms of politics, security and economy for Vietnam to speed up its process of national construction and development. It has also facilitated the country’s exports and trade links. ASEAN has provided a good opportunity for Vietnam to expand its activities at multilateral forums and integrate further.
What areas will Vietnam focus on to help ASEAN reach its goal of building an ASEAN community by 2015 after it assumes the ASEAN presidency in the context of ASEAN facing challenges from both outside and inside?
The new point is that there is a charter for a new ASEAN. During its one-year term of holding the ASEAN presidency, Vietnam will take part in a series of major conferences including Ministerial Meetings and work out the agendas for ASEAN forums.
How to build the ASEAN community and cope with global challenges is of central importance to ASEAN. Therefore, Vietnam needs to fulfill all the tasks assigned to it as the ASEAN President and promote its image in the organisation.
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