Hanoi (VNA) –Joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the first step ofVietnam in the process of international integration, and the bloc has served as a gateway for the country’s integration into the region and the world, anofficial has said.

Pham Quynh Mai, DeputyDirector of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department at the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, made the remark during an interview granted to the press on August 4, onthe sidelines of a conference on communications about ASEAN ahead of the bloc’s55th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967 - 2022).

She noted Vietnam became anofficial member of ASEAN on July 28, 1995, which was an important turning pointmarking the end of a period full of difficulties, helping the country escapefrom sanctions, and opening up a period of integration for common developmentin Southeast Asia.

Since becoming part of ASEAN,Vietnam has played a proactive and active part in common activities of theassociation, especially economic cooperation.

Promoting the establishmentof the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was always one of the top priorities inthe country’s international economic integration process. Together with othermember states, Vietnam worked hard to carry out commitments and initiatives toimplement the master plan on the AEC building. As a result, the AEC came intobeing on December 31, 2015 with the goal of turning ASEAN into a single marketand production base, Mai said.

She went on to say that Vietnamhas also joined other ASEAN members in promoting extensive economic ties withpartners such as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, NewZealand, the US, the EU, Canada, and the UK, as well as signing and enforcingthe bloc’s free trade agreements with some of those partners. That has helped boosttrade and economic partnerships between ASEAN, including Vietnam, withpartners.

As Chair of ASEAN in 2020, thecountry and other members brought into play the “Cohesive and Responsive”spirit through hundreds of virtual meetings and numerous initiatives to createconditions for consolidating regional supply chains and addressing the COVID-19pandemic’s impacts on economies.

Besides, as Chair of theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting, Vietnamalso coordinated with ASEAN members and partner countries to promote consensusto deal with issues during the RCEP negotiation process, finalise the talks,and sign the deal on November 15, 2020.

This was a result of greatefforts during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and won high evaluationfrom partners, helping strengthen the country’s reputation in the region andthe world, according to Mai.

After 27 years of being anASEAN member, the Vietnamese economy has recorded breakthroughs in all aspects,with per capita GDP surging by over 13-fold, the economy expanding over 17-foldto 362.6 billion USD in 2021 from 20.7 billion USD in 1995, and export turnoverrising to 336.3 billion USD in 2021 from 5.2 billion USD in 1995.

The official added the economicintegration into ASEAN has created a solid stepping stone for Vietnam’s internationaleconomic integration, practically helping to generate breakthroughs in economicdevelopment over the past years, increase exports, expand partnershipopportunities for enterprises, improve people’s life quality, create more jobs,and boost people’s access to diverse and quality goods with reasonable pricesfrom around the world.

As such, the implementation ofcooperation commitments within the AEC has been bringing practicalbenefits to Vietnam, its businesses, and people, as well as ASEAN at large, shenoted./.