Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son recently wrote an article titled “ASEAN: Epicentrum of peace, cooperation, development” on the occasion of the group’s 56th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967-2023).
Spreading the value of dialogue and cooperation
Born in the context of Southeast Asia's transformation, facing countless challenges and “storms” from all directions, ASEAN has well understood the value of a peaceful, secure and stable environment.
Standards of conduct built by ASEAN have contributed to shaping and leading cooperative relations towards the goal of peace, stability and common prosperity. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is a clear testament to the bloc's efforts. To date, the TAC with 51 participating countries has become a fundamental document and the basis for relations and behaviours among countries in the region.
Another example is the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea/South China Sea (DOC) and the ongoing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). This are among ASEAN's efforts towards building the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and sustainable development, as well as building a culture of consultation and dialogue, according to Son.
New wind for economic cooperation and development
With a total population of nearly 700 million and a GDP of nearly 4 trillion USD, ASEAN is a large, dynamic, and promising economy. Overcoming headwinds of the world economy, the group has contributed to creating momentum and bringing optimistic hope to the regional economy.
Amidst the gloomy colours of the world economic picture, ASEAN is a bright spot for growth and an attractive investment destination. Its growth is forecast to reach 4.7% in 2023 and 5% in 2024, far exceeding the world average. Last year, the bloc's trade rose by nearly 15% to reach 3.8 trillion USD, while foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 5.5% to nearly 225 billion USD.
Facing major global trends, ASEAN has quickly adjusted its approach, and boosted innovation and creativity in cooperation methods and contents towards green, clean, and sustainable directions. At the same time, it has sought and expanded collaboration in new potential areas.
Many drastic measures have been taken, such as negotiating to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the bloc’s free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and India, while a lot of new initiatives have been launched, such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the Framework for a Circular Economy, the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, and the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality. They are the preparation for an ASEAN that proactively adapts to various opportunities and challenges towards the goal of sustainable and inclusive development and self-resilience enhancement, FM Son emphasised.
More proactive, positive, and effective
Regarding Vietnam’s presence in ASEAN, the foreign minister said that Vietnam joined the grouping at the beginning of its renewal and integration process. The nearly-30-year journey has demonstrated the country’s consistent policy of always making efforts and contributing its best for a united and strongly developing ASEAN.
Vietnam has gradually come to play a pivotal and leading role in many areas of ASEAN cooperation, he affirmed.
The sense of responsibility and practical contributions of its ministries, sectors, and localities have helped affirm the image of a proactive, active, flexible, and creative Vietnam with an increasing position and voice in the region and the world. Vietnam's initiatives, especially through its ASEAN Chairmanship terms in 1998, 2010, and 2020, have left valuable assets for the group, creating momentum to promote the process of building the ASEAN Community.
The Vietnamese FM Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying that Vietnam is committed to wholeheartedly caring for the sustainability of the common ASEAN home, and the group’s cooperation and connectivity is a top priority and strategic choice of the nation. Vietnam pledges to work with other member countries to realise an aspiration for a strongly transforming ASEAN, which is truly the epicentre of peace, cooperation, and development.
