Promoting ASEAN’s solidarity and central role

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to Thailand to attend the ASEAN Summit and related summits from November 2-4 aims to promote the association’s central role, expand and deepen relations with ASEAN’s partners, and create a conducive environment for the sustainable development of each country and the whole region.

Promoting ASEAN’s solidarity and central role

It is also an opportunity to enhance the image of a Vietnam that continues to reform, takes part in regional cooperation activities in a proactive and responsible manner, laying the foundation for Vietnam to successfully assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2020.

The ASEAN Community formally came into being on December 31, 2015, opening a new chapter in the association’s history and taking ASEAN cooperation to a new height. In 2019, ASEAN continues to step up cooperation and connection under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, aiming to enhance the sustainability of all the three pillars of the ASEAN Community; align ASEAN’s development goals with the UN’s sustainable development goals; promote partnerships, expand connections and enhance ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure; and enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness and adaptability.

The 35th ASEAN Summit in Thailand takes place against a backdrop of ASEAN reaping encouraging results in intra-regional cooperation as well as in relations with its partners. ASEAN’s partners have attached more and more importance to promoting multi-faceted cooperation with ASEAN through concrete programmes, initiatives and measures, supporting ASEAN’s central role and pledging to support ASEAN in building the Community.

However, the association is currently facing various challenges. Flashpoints in the region continue to challenge its solidarity, unity and central role in resolving crises. On the one hand, growing competition and friction between major powers give room for ASEAN, on the other hand, they present new challenges to ASEAN’s central role and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

At the 35th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions on measures to promote the progress of building the ASEAN Community, effectively implement master plans for the ASEAN Community Vision 2025; review the results of implementing priorities in 2019; and orient ASEAN’s activities for the coming years. The summit will also discuss regional and international issues of interest to ASEAN member countries, and will exchange measures to promote the extensive, mutually beneficial relationships with their partners.

After the Summit’s closing ceremony, a ceremony will take place to hand over the ASEAN chairmanship from Thailand to Vietnam. At the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to introduce the theme and some major orientations of Vietnam in the 2020 ASEAN Year.

Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has always demonstrated its willingness and efforts, making responsible contributions to the association’s common achievements by actively cooperating with other member countries to formulate ASEAN’s important orientations and decisions.

In addition, Vietnam has always upheld the solidarity and unity within ASEAN; built and brought into play the value of instruments and mechanisms to ensure regional security; promoted the building of trust and shared standards of conduct in the region, reinforcing ASEAN’s central role; actively pioneered in regional economic integration; participated in and proposed substantive cooperation initiatives oriented towards the people.

With the full and extensive participation in ASEAN’s activities, Vietnam is proud to be an important part in the history of ASEAN. Vietnam will assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020, the key year in implementing the plan to realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and also the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s attendance at the 35th ASEAN Summit in Thailand aims to express Vietnam’s support for Thailand in its capacity as ASEAN 2019 Chair while helping to reinforce ASEAN solidarity, promote the association’s central role, and expand and deepen relations with ASEAN’s partners. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip also affirms the image of Vietnam as a trusted, proactive and active member, which is closely aligned with and wholeheartedly dedicated to ASEAN, thereby creating a solid foundation for Vietnam to successfully assume ASEAN chairmanship in 2020, towards to the common goal of building a region of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development.