Promoting central role of ASEAN, strengthening sustainable cooperation with partners

As the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020, Vietnam is presiding over the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-53) and related meetings. The meeting is one of the most important events of the Vietnam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship and is being held online for the first time. This meaningful event aims to promote the centrality of ASEAN, strengthen the sustainable cooperation between ASEAN and partners, and contribute to the preparation for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings scheduled for next November.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the opening ceremony of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. (Photo: VGP)
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the opening ceremony of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. (Photo: VGP)

We are pleased to see that, as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam has made efforts to promote solidarity, maintain cooperation and boost the development of ASEAN Community while improving the cooperative and proactive capacity of ASEAN to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the spirit of "Cohesion and Proactive Adaptation".

Vietnam’s priorities and initiatives, such as the mid-term evaluations of the master plans for implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the review of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, and the formation of the post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision, are supported by member countries and partners and are being implemented as set plans.

The image of an active, proactive and responsible ASEAN Chair in 2020 in the spirit of "community thinking, community action" has spread to every citizen in the region and the world.

Amid the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has displayed its flexibility and proactiveness in effectively leading ASEAN to respond to the pandemic. Many online conferences have been successfully organised in this year such as the 36th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN + 3 Special Summit on COVID-19 response, ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, and meetings between ASEAN and its partners, including China, the US, Russia, the European Union, and others.

Many specific and practical initiatives on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the establishment of the ASEAN Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the formation of a regional medical material stockpile, and the formulation of a plan to comprehensively recover the ASEAN were proposed and received positive reviews from domestic, regional and international public opinion.

During the 25 years since joining ASEAN, with the motto "active, proactive and responsible", Vietnam has made important contributions to the association's development and success.

Vietnam plays a pivotal role in defining the ASEAN development goals and directions and formulating major decisions of ASEAN, such as the ASEAN Vision 2020 and the implementation plans of the ASEAN Vision, ASEAN Charter, the Roadmap on building the ASEAN Community 2015 and many other important agreements, including the agreement on connecting and narrowing development gaps.

We have actively participated in building the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, with the aim of deepening ASEAN connection and raising the ASEAN role in the region. Vietnam successfully assumed the role of ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010 and ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and hosted many major conferences.

The 25 years of joining ASEAN has helped Vietnam ensure a peaceful, stable and favourable environment for national security and development while effectively supporting the implementation of an independent, self-reliant, diversified and multilateral foreign policy of the Vietnamese Party and State.

The 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings is taking place amid the complicated and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, such as the growing strategic competition among major countries and the East Sea situation being a hot spot both in the field and on the agenda of conferences. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has created negative effects on the regional and world economy, causing difficulties in people’s lives.

In that context, the AMM-53 and related meetings are of great importance which is an opportunity for Foreign Ministers to exchange and coordinate the ASEAN Community building process in all three pillars and to implement the priority in the 2020 ASEAN Chair and discuss the future direction of ASEAN cooperation.

The meetings are also expected to unify ASEAN views towards a common voice on international and regional issues, enhance sustainable and effective cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, promote the central role of ASEAN, and enhance ASEAN's operational efficiency, thus contributing to preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and upcoming related summits.

Within the framework of AMM-53, there will be conferences including the 27th ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) 10 + 1 Sessions with ASEAN's Dialogue Partners, the 21st ASEAN + 3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Coordinating Council’s special session on sub-regional development, and the ASEAN ministerial-level dialogue on strengthening women’s role in sustainable peace and security.

May the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and related meetings be a success, helping to build an ASEAN Community united in mutual assistance while promoting cooperation between ASEAN and partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting regional linkages and connectivity, and effectively addressing issues related to peace, stability and common development in the region and the world.