Moscow (VNA) – Prof. Vladimir Kolotovfrom the Saint Petersburg State U𓂃niversity has said Vietnam, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair, played an activero🔜le in seeking solutions to basic issues faced by the region at the 36th ASEAN Summit.

In an interview granted toVietnam News Agency on July 3, Kolotov said it was the first time in the pastmore than five decades the ASEAN Summit had been held online at a time whenVietnam and ASEAN member states reaped good results in the fight againstCOVID-19. Vietnam created favourableconditions for discussions among regional nations and outlined a strategy,orientations and vision for the bloc’s development in the next five years till2025, he said. Under the chair ofVietnam, the 36th ASEAN Summit achieved outstanding results such assharing of experience in fighting COVID-19, developing human resources,improving women’s role in digital technology era, ensuring gender equality,enhancing youths’ role and drafting ASEAN development strategy for the future,he added. One of the highlights atthe summit is the proposal on an ASEAN strategy till 2025, in which Vietnam spotlightsthe spirit of solidarity as an extremely important factor to build the ASEANCommunity, enhance its role in the future, and lay the foundation to ensure a sustainableand strong bloc both inside and outside. According to him, regionalsecurity maintenance is the most important to ensure sustainable development. Insuch context, the mentioning of the East Sea issue in the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement hasproved Vietnam’s role as ASEAN Chair 2020. The scholar lauded Vietnamas one of the prestigious nations on international arena because the countryalways complies with international law and acts responsibly. He said Vietnam always assertsthat the East Sea issue could only be handled in accordance with the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards reaching a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) to ensure stability, security, and freedom of maritime and aviation,which he said, are necessary conditions to develop the grouping amid uncertaindevelopments in the world at present./.