Speaking at the event, the Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh municipal Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association Phan Thi Hong Xuan emphasised that the past 27 years, since Vietnam joined ASEAN, has been a significant period for Vietnam and ASEAN in the building of the ASEAN Community Vision to 2025.
She stressed that from a region with divisions and differences, ASEAN has grown to become a growing united community of independent countries that are developing strongly, and gradually overcoming difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and non-traditional security challenges, such as income inequality and climate change.
ASEAN has promoted its role as an important and indispensable factor for peace, stability and development in the Southeast region, a driving force for dialogues, cooperation and connectivity between member states, as well as expanded collaboration in East Asia, the Asia – Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions, she asserted.
On behalf of the delegates, Cambodia Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sok Dareth hailed that since it officially joined ASEAN, Vietnam has worked as an active and responsible member of ASEAN as well as of the international community.
Together with other member countries, Vietnam has made positive contributions to building ASEAN Community and strengthening ASEAN connectivity, he added.
He also applauded the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations and the Ho Chi Minh municipal Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association for organising various activities to raise public awareness about the ASEAN Community and promote people-to-people linkages among ASEAN member states, while contributing to realising the vision of a peaceful, integrated, stable, prosperous, and sharing community.
