After stepping aboard the ship that is ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam and fellow ASEAN member states have bravely sailed together through the turbulent high seas. The resilience of ASEAN today bears the mark of Vietnam’s tireless efforts in cultivating the solidarity and unity that enabled ASEAN to surmount times of hardship and adversity. Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has demonstrated its goodwill, efforts, dynamism and responsibility while contributing to ASEAN’s achievements.

Vietnam became the seventh member of the Association of Southeast Asian Association of Nations (ASEAN) on July 28, 1995, marking a milestone in the country’s integration into regional affairs as well as in regional co-operation.

The ASEAN came into being on August 8, 1967, with its Bangkok Declaration, demonstrating its ambition as an association under which all Southeast Asian countries would work together for a region of peace, freedom and prosperity.

The ASEAN Community was formed on December 31, 2015, gradually establishing itself as a model Community: politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible. ASEAN has thus become an important partner for countries beyond the region, and a central player in various dialogue and cooperation processes. With a view to realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Community has been striving for cohesion and consolidating its centrality in the regional processes for peace, security, stability and development in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam also plays a pivotal role in determining the goals, directions for development and formation of major ASEAN policies such as the ASEAN Vision 2020 and plans to implement the vision, ASEAN Charter, roadmap for building the ASEAN Community 2015 and many other important agreements, including those on connecting and narrowing the development gaps.

ASEAN leaders sign a declaration on the establishment of the ASEAN Community. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam has also been involved in building the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, with the goal of deepening ASEAN connectivity and increasing the importance of its role in the region. Vietnam has successfully connected, expanded, and deepened ties that exist between ASEAN and strategic partners such as China, the US, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the EU, Australia, and India.

The country has also been active in implementing the overall roadmap to develop the ASEAN community, participating in drafting ASEAN integration initiatives which contribute to narrowing the development gap and supporting new members as they integrate into the region. Vietnam has fulfilled its responsibilities as a member country by hosting many major conferences.

For a cohesive and responsive ASEAN

January 1, 2020 marks Vietnam’s official assumption of its ASEAN Chairmanship 2020. As both the ASEAN Chair for 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020 – 2021, Vietnam stands before numerous opportunities to showcase its role in the region and the world.

By choosing the theme of “Cohesive and Responsive” for ASEAN Vietnam 2020, Vietnam highlighted the decisive role of solidarity and unity in maintaining the sustainability of ASEAN. Only a cohesive and advanced ASEAN Community may effectively respond to external influences, whereas responsiveness would allow ASEAN to further strengthen its cohesion, thereby enhancing its overall capacities. It has also earned strong support from ASEAN member states and its partners.

In order to translate the theme of “Cohesive and Responsive” into reality, Vietnam has identified 5 key priorities for our ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, as follows.

First is the advancement of ASEAN’s active role and contribution to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region. This shall be achieved by consolidating ASEAN’s solidarity and unity, fostering stronger cohesion and mutual support among its member states, improving the coordination of ASEAN positions in addressing regional and international issues, promoting the formulation and observance of common rules and norms of conduct in the relations among states, and thereby allowing ASEAN to effectively respond to any threats to the regional peace, security and stability in a timely manner.

Second is to promote regional connectivity and integration, heighten our responsiveness and harness opportunities arising from the fourth Industrial Revolution. This involves extensive economic integration and comprehensive connectivity within ASEAN and between ASEAN with its partners, and sustainable and inclusive economic, financial and social development grounded on innovation and the use of digital and novel technologies. The process would also include sustained efforts to narrow development gaps, build a quality workforce, and improve social services for our citizens.

Third is to foster the ASEAN sense of community and identity by cultivating a set of ASEAN shared values and instilling these values among the ASEAN people, promoting an awareness and identity of an ASEAN Community united in diversity, and popularising the image of the ASEAN Community in the region and the world.

Fourth is to advance partnerships for peace and sustainable development with countries around the world. We seek to promote ASEAN’s role and contributions in the international community, and to expand and elevate relations with partners all over the world, thereby contributing to the formulation of the new regional and global architecture and rules.

To realise these targets, the fifth priority, of no less importance, is to improve the responsiveness and operational effectiveness of ASEAN organs via institutional reforms and the adjustment, improvement and upgrade of ASEAN’s procedures and standards.

Vietnam demonstrates its leading role for the development of ASEAN in 2020

2020 marks an important milestone when Vietnam has assumed the rotating Chair of ASEAN. This role is even more important when the world faces COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam started to prepare for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 from last year when the COVID-19 pandemic had not begun. Therefore, everything Vietnam prepared has turned upside down. However, Vietnam has quickly and promptly shifted the programme and focus of ASEAN 2020 to COVID-19, which has been applauded by member nations.

As the Chair of ASEAN 2020 is themed “Cohesive and Responsive”, Vietnam has been active in leading and coordinating ASEAN's efforts and co-operating with partners to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as to minimise the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

Vietnam worked with other countries to issue the Chairman's Statement on ASEAN collective response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 on February 14. The statement gave a warning over the pandemic and affirmed the commitment of ASEAN countries to regional and national co-operation.

Vietnam also held a special ASEAN summit and a special ASEAN+3 summit on COVID-19 response and organised meetings with partners such as China, the EU, the US and international organisations to together push back and control the pandemic.

The Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on Covid-19. (Photo: TGVN)

Vietnam promoted the hosting of two online meetings of the ASEAN Co-ordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies on March 31 and June 22 to discuss solutions to cope with COVID-19 and improve prevention capacity to respond more effectively to emergency medical situations in the future. In the context of the complex pandemic, Vietnam has held virtual meetings, demonstrating flexibility and relevance, helping ASEAN respond promptly to the pandemic.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is also General Secretary of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee, the clearest illustration of Vietnam’s active participation is that the country is always among the member nations with the highest enforcement rate of the ASEAN Community’s master plans.

Vietnam has assumed the role of ASEAN Chair at a difficult time as COVID-19 broke out around the world. The country, therefore, shifted the priority to the fight against the pandemic. It also continued carrying out initiatives to maintain the building of the ASEAN Community. This is a big challenge for the ASEAN Chair this year as works sometimes doubled or tripled. However, with its efforts, Vietnam has achieved the desired results of targets set in the ASEAN Chairmanship year.

During the ASEAN Community building process, Vietnam’s initiatives and ASEAN’s joint efforts have helped the region stay firm against the pandemic and recover early. The results announced at the 37th ASEAN Summit will orient beyond-2025 plans for ASEAN, Deputy FM Dung said, adding that Vietnam’s contributions will help both short-term and long-term works of the bloc.

As ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has promptly issued statements in response to the pandemic, emphasising the need for ASEAN member countries to closely coordinate with each other, he said, citing the creation of the ASEAN Coordinating Council.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, held from November 12-15, are the most important activities in the year in which Vietnam undertakes its role as ASEAN Chair. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong attended and presented a speech at the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit (Photo: Nhan Dan)

The 37th ASEAN Summit’s plenary session was followed by a ceremony to announce the results of mid-term review of master plans for the implementation of the ASEAN Vision 2025 and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, and the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies to respond to medical emergencies. Other related meetings were the 23rd ASEAN-China Summit and the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit.

At the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit, the two sides announced a plan to establish an ASEAN centre for public health emergencies and emerging diseases with Japan’s support.

For the first time, the ASEAN women leaders’ summit took place under the chair of Prime Minister Phuc, with the participation of representatives of female leaders from ASEAN member countries’ States, Governments and legislative bodies. Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan also addressed the event.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and related summits offered opportunities for ASEAN member nations to comprehensively evaluate the results of intra-bloc cooperation as well as cooperation between the group and its partners, towards setting priorities for the next stage.

In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, complicated developments in the strategic regional and global environment, traditional and non-traditional issues threating to security and stability in the region, the event was an important chance for leaders of ASEAN member countries to affirm their strong political commitment and determination to maintaining the momentum of regional cooperation and linkage, effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and further improving ASEAN’s central role and position, as well as mapping out appropriate development directions for the group in a rapidly moving, complex and unpredictable world.

Vietnam hailed for its role in ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi recognised the achievements of Vietnam’s Chairmanship this year while tackling the challenges of COVID-19.

He said Vietnam has demonstrated strong leadership in spearheading a collective regional response to COVID-19. Its Chairmanship theme of building a cohesive and responsive ASEAN is very relevant given the situation we find ourselves in. ASEAN’s strong response is largely due to Vietnam’s leadership in encouraging our continued dialogue and collaboration.

Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphan Savanphet said under the leadership of Vietnam as ASEAN 2020 Chair, ASEAN has fulfilled all of its set goals, initiatives and priorities despite facing many great challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Thongphan Savanphet, more than 80 documents are expected to be approved, recognised and announced at the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings. This is the largest number of documents ever to be released, proving that despite facing the huge challenges in 2020, under the chairmanship of Vietnam, all plans and initiatives launched by ASEAN have all been completed with high efficiency.

The prominent issue at this summit would be cooperation to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, restore the economy or deal with the socio-economic impacts in each member country. Besides, the ASEAN leaders may discuss future cooperation, including joint research on how to access COVID-19 vaccines in all member countries when vaccines are available.

Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong Siow Ping said Vietnam has admirably assumed the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020, performing its leading role in ASEAN in the context of many difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the pandemic has disrupted face-to-face meetings, Vietnam has successfully organised many important events, contributing to make recommendations for collective actions. Vietnam has also exerted efforts to strengthen ASEAN cohesion by promoting the building of ASEAN Community. This will help us better recover and prepare for future challenges.

As an active member of ASEAN, Singapore supports Vietnam's role as ASEAN Chair in 2020. Singapore has contributed to ASEAN's joint efforts toward post-pandemic recovery. Singapore has also invested in the research and development of vaccines and treatment methods and is willing to share with ASEAN.

Singapore works with Vietnam in a joint effort to build the ASEAN Community while strongly supporting agreements on upholding the open and rules-based multilateral trading system.

Ambassadors and representatives of foreign organisations in Vietnam attend the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: Nhan Dan)

Japanese ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said Vietnam is one of the few countries that has succeeded in both effectively containing the COVID-19 pandemic and reviving its economy. Vietnam's efforts have been highly appreciated by the international community.

We hope that, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam will promote its achievements and experience and take the lead in the joint efforts to address challenges facing the region, including the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

On the occasion of the 37th ASEAN Summit, Japan once again affirm its support for ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation. We fully support ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and look forward to promoting practical cooperation with ASEAN following the AOIP. Japan will also continue to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam, the ASEAN Chair in 2020.

During his recent visit to Vietnam in October, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide affirmed that the potential for developing Vietnam-Japan relations is unlimited. The Prime Minister also suggested to strengthen links between Japan and ASEAN through improving supply chain, developing infrastructure, digital connectivity and human resource training.

ASEAN Korea Centre (AKC) Secretary General Lee Hyuk has appreciated the role of Vietnam in ASEAN and as ASEAN Chair this year as well as the prospects of ASEAN-ROK ties in the future. “Over the quarter-century, Vietnam has not only become an integral part of ASEAN, but today is one of the stronger growth engines of the ASEAN Economic Community contributing to the regional prosperity,” he noted.

Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Vietnam’s chairmanship was faced with many challenges—the slowdown in global economy, the rising tension between US and China in the region, and the growing frequency of natural disasters due to climate change, just to mention a few. And when COVID19 broke out, Vietnam had to face even greater hardship as it carried out its ASEAN Chairmanship.

However, under theme “cohesive and responsive” —which was not only very timely but also relevant to the current pandemic situation—Vietnam demonstrated excellent leadership, not only in successfully containing the spread of the virus at home, but also in uniting the ASEAN Member States (AMS) together for joint action, Lee affirmed.

He went on to say that through numerous online video conferences at both the summit and ministerial levels, Vietnam was able to bring the region together to share information on COVID19; to support affected areas with medical equipment; to facilitate movement of essential peoples; and to commit to open and free trade and minimise the effects of supply chain disruptions.