Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said ASEAN has grown from a historic decision to replace division with dialogue and confrontation with cooperation into a community of peace, progress, and shared prosperity, with an economy worth 3.9 trillion USD and a population of nearly 700 million.

An ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 8 to mark the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967 – 2025) and the 30th anniversary of Viet Nam’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).