Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has delivered a message on theoccasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s admission tothe bloc. Following is a translation of the message.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today is a veryimportant day of our region as we are celebrating the founding anniversary ofthe Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967)together. Throughout 53 years of development with its historic missions statedin the Bangkok Declaration 1967 kept in mind, ASEAN has truly become anorganisation representing regional countries and uniting them in friendly andcooperative neighbourliness on the basis of mutual respect and understanding tostrive for peace, progress and prosperity of people.
From a grouping of only five members, ASEAN has developed into a community often Southeast Asian nations with a population of 650 million and an economyranking fifth in the world registering GDP of more than 3 trillion USD in 2019and even gone beyond the regional border.
ASEAN has expanded relations with many partners in and outside the region, includingworld powers, creating momentum for cooperation and dialogue processes forpeace, security, stability and development in Asia-Pacific and the world.
That is a precious achievement built by many generations that we must cherishand have the responsibility to preserve and promote.
Can we fulfill this mission? Will ASEAN continue maintaining its value andvitality sustainably to meet expectations of people? It requires the concertedefforts, consensus, strong political will and determination of all states.
ASEAN’s basic principles, recognised regional standards and above all,international law, the spirit of multilaterism and regional connectivity, aswell as ASEAN’s centrality should be further promoted. ASEAN’s values as a commonmarket, an united production base, an open movement and work space, a communityof mutual care, support and sharing must be widely spread for all people andbusinesses to enjoy and contribute to the bloc’s development.
Twenty-five years ago, Vietnam joined ASEAN. The image of the red flag with theyellow star in the centre of Vietnam flying alongside with the national flagsof other ASEAN member countries in the Brunei sky on July 28, 1995 will beremembered as an important milestone for both Vietnam and ASEAN. A new journeystarted for Vietnam, bringing the country into a process of intensive andextensive international integration.
It can be said that Vietnam’s development achievements over the past 25 yearshave important contributions from the ASEAN membership. The active, positiveand responsible participation of Vietnam has also contributed to the developmentof the ASEAN Community.
With the cohesive and responsive spirit, as the ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnam givesthe highest priority to promoting solidarity and unity and effectivecoordination among member countries, as well as strengthening relations with partners toenhance the capacity to deal with unprecedented challenges: the COVID-19pandemic and fierce competition in the regional and global geopoliticalenvironment, in which the respect for law, including 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must be heightened.
Joining hands with other ASEAN member countries in overcoming the existingdifficulties and challenges, Vietnam has continued to promote the successfulimplementation of the ASEAN Vision 2025, enhance the position and promote therole of ASEAN, thus contributing to peace, security and sustainable growth inthe region and the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
From a grouping of only five members, ASEAN has developed into a community often Southeast Asian nations with a population of 650 million and an economyranking fifth in the world registering GDP of more than 3 trillion USD in 2019and even gone beyond the regional border.
ASEAN has expanded relations with many partners in and outside the region, includingworld powers, creating momentum for cooperation and dialogue processes forpeace, security, stability and development in Asia-Pacific and the world.
That is a precious achievement built by many generations that we must cherishand have the responsibility to preserve and promote.
Can we fulfill this mission? Will ASEAN continue maintaining its value andvitality sustainably to meet expectations of people? It requires the concertedefforts, consensus, strong political will and determination of all states.
ASEAN’s basic principles, recognised regional standards and above all,international law, the spirit of multilaterism and regional connectivity, aswell as ASEAN’s centrality should be further promoted. ASEAN’s values as a commonmarket, an united production base, an open movement and work space, a communityof mutual care, support and sharing must be widely spread for all people andbusinesses to enjoy and contribute to the bloc’s development.
Twenty-five years ago, Vietnam joined ASEAN. The image of the red flag with theyellow star in the centre of Vietnam flying alongside with the national flagsof other ASEAN member countries in the Brunei sky on July 28, 1995 will beremembered as an important milestone for both Vietnam and ASEAN. A new journeystarted for Vietnam, bringing the country into a process of intensive andextensive international integration.
It can be said that Vietnam’s development achievements over the past 25 yearshave important contributions from the ASEAN membership. The active, positiveand responsible participation of Vietnam has also contributed to the developmentof the ASEAN Community.
With the cohesive and responsive spirit, as the ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnam givesthe highest priority to promoting solidarity and unity and effectivecoordination among member countries, as well as strengthening relations with partners toenhance the capacity to deal with unprecedented challenges: the COVID-19pandemic and fierce competition in the regional and global geopoliticalenvironment, in which the respect for law, including 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must be heightened.
Joining hands with other ASEAN member countries in overcoming the existingdifficulties and challenges, Vietnam has continued to promote the successfulimplementation of the ASEAN Vision 2025, enhance the position and promote therole of ASEAN, thus contributing to peace, security and sustainable growth inthe region and the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
ASEAN has always beenone of the important pillars in Vietnam’s foreign policy. An united, strong, prosperousand self-reliant ASEAN Community with high international role and position isour shared interest. This can only be reached if all of us “think community andact community”. Vietnam has been exerted efforts, together with other ASEANmembers, to successfully implement this noble goal.
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
VNA
