Opening the event, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that under Vietnam’s strong and able Chairmanship, ASEAN stays focused in undertaking important milestone exercises, as the region demonstrates its commitment to its integration journey.
Noting that the region is gradually adopting to the ''new normal,'' Dato Lim underpinned the significance of ASEAN developing a robust, holistic and pragmatic post-pandemic recovery framework to mitigate socio-economic effects, while continuing to advance regional economic integration.
In her remarks, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi rallied for all ASEAN member states to continue to work together in fighting the pandemic.
"ASEAN must always cooperate to maintain our regional peace and stability, and not to be dragged into the storm of geopolitical tension or being forced to choose sides. Therefore, the region must stay ahead of the curve to maintain our centrality and relevance and be in the driving seat in turning rivalry into cooperation and distrust into strategic trust," she said.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh noted that over the past 53 years, ASEAN has many times shown its strength, solidarity and capacity to recover.
By embracing 10 member nations, ASEAN has turned Southeast Asia from a land of discord to a land of concord, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic development, he said.
Minh noted that the ASEAN Community today has become a big family of six hundred and fifty million people with a combined GDP of 3 trillion USD and a peaceful, stable and resilient region with dynamic, vibrant economies.
Turning vision into actions, ASEAN has promoted the interest of nations as well as peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Minh added that the association is entering an important period. A new dynamism amidst the geopolitical situation and emerging regional and global issues requires the association to become more united and active for adaptation. Working together, all nations can overcome whatever challenges arise and move forward, he stated.
The Deputy PM asserted that all countries in the region should increase their efforts to reinforce the Community, while staying positive and active in promoting partnership between ASEAN and dialogue partners, and ensuring the regional architecture in which an open, transparent, inclusive and rule-based ASEAN plays the central role.
The year 2020 marks Vietnam’s 25th year of ASEAN membership, he noted, vowing that with the country’s commitments and experience over the past 25 years, Vietnam will make even more active contributions to the association.
Under the chairmanship of Vietnam this year, ASEAN has applied measures for people’s health protection and economic recovery. The association has taken a pioneering role in regional efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, and reformed its operations, deepening its foreign relations, thereby enhancing its international status, he said.
Minh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to work closely with its neighbours and friends to build a strong and united ASEAN, one that is indispensable to peace and prosperity within the region and beyond, in line with ASEAN's principles and value of 'Think Community, Act Community'.
The online celebration was broadcast on ASEAN's website and social media platforms. Along with the official speeches, the online celebration featured congratulatory wishes from ASEAN citizens, ASEAN's external partners and special musical performances by the region's youth and a Thai-based social enterprise, C asean Consonant.
