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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PM attends Standard Chartered-ASEAN Business Forum 2020

As ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered a speech at the Standard Chartered-ASEAN Business Forum 2020 themed “Unlocking the region’s potential”, which was televised on international medial channels.

Vietnam exerts extra effort for cohesive, responsive ASEAN

Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, is exerting every effort to boost the building of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community so that the bloc can deal with all possible challenges and difficulties, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has said.

Special stamp released to mark Vietnam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship

The Ministry of Information and Communications issued a special stamp entitled "Vietnam welcomes the ASEAN year" on August 7.

Special promotions offered on ASEAN Online Sale Day

As many as 215 businesses from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are offering special promotion programmes during ASEAN Online Sale Day, taking place on August 8.

Together for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community

Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN in 1995 is one of the most important milestones not only in Vietnam’s foreign policy history since the August Revolution in 1945, but also in the development of ASEAN. This historic event holds important significance, bringing Southeast Asia from confrontation to dialogue, from distrust to trust, from division to solidarity.

Source: NDO