Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh: ASEAN-Vietnam connectivity - a reciprocal affair, bringing mutual benefits
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh
The formal establishment of the ASEAN Community will bring ASEAN to a new and more dynamic phase of development. A deeply connected bloc will surely bring member countries and the region more practical benefits. The establishment is not only significant to the region, but also specifically to Vietnam with the country’s 20-year anniversary of membership in the bloc.
The connectivity between ASEAN and Vietnam is a reciprocal affair bringing mutual benefits. Vietnam has made notable contributions, which have been internationally recognised, to the bloc’s growth and success.
The two decades of Vietnam’s participation in the bloc have seen the country’s maturity in integration, from initial hesitant steps to learn and get acquainted with the bloc, to the fulfillment of responsibilities as a member and the present status of a pro-active member taking part in forming ‘common rules’. Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN has accompanied and laid a basis for renewing the country’s diplomatic policy. Reviewing the participation, many important contributions of Vietnam have been closely linked with the bloc’s significant steps forwards.
Continuing the motto of pro-activeness and responsibility, Vietnam will spare no efforts for the future of a united and strong ASEAN Community.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh: ASEAN turns diversity into an advantage
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh
ASEAN is the most diverse organisation in the world. The richest member has an average income per capita 76 times higher than that of the poorest country. The biggest member has a population 600 times larger than the smallest. ASEAN has turned diversity into an advantage in the development and integration process of each country and the entire region. Together with the European Union, ASEAN is evaluated as one of the most successful regional organisations.
In the 2025 ASEAN Community’s Vision, along with a new co-operation roadmap on boosting internal connectivity, the bloc will prioritise institutional improvements and elevation of co-operation effectiveness among the three pillars of politics-security, economics and socio-culture. The vision’s important emphasis is bringing ASEAN into a community working for people and taking people as the central role.
Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihane: Lao will make further contributions, bring new success to ASEAN
Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihane
The ASEAN Community’s establishment is the start of a new development phase of the bloc in the set roadmap, aiming to build a community which is linked politically and economically and shares social responsibilities. As a result, the bloc should tighten collaboration in all aspects to address remaining issues, which have become challenges to the region and the world, including promoting ASEAN connectivity, narrowing development gaps, coping with climate change, natural disasters, human trafficking, drugs, terrorism, maritime security and illegal immigration.
The establishment will open a new era in the bloc’s history, bringing ASEAN into a common community of over 600 million people with geological connectivity and shared targets and destiny. ASEAN is the seventh largest economy in the world with US$2.6 trillion and US$136 billion in foreign direct investment in 2014, and expected to reach 7% economic growth and US$4.6 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025. This is the result of co-operation efforts among ASEAN member countries and between ASEAN and other partners. The bloc’s achievements and experiences over the past five decades have created confidence for Laos and ASEAN member countries to fulfill the set targets.
