Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the 36th ASEAN Summit (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - US online magazine Foreign Policyhas published an article looking into Vietnam’s leadership progress in ASEAN.
The article, named “Vietnam Steps Up to Take ASEAN LeadershipRole” and published on July 31, stressed the fact that the country had beengearing for 2020 when it is not only the rotating Chair of ASEAN but also anonpermanent member of the UN Security Council.
The author said Vietnam has already proved on multipleoccasions its ability to host important regional forums and high-level meetingsof global importance, such as the US – Democratic People’s Republic of Koreasummit in Hanoi last year.
The article highlighted the nation’s impressive response toCOVID-19, which has obtained respect and recognition from its neighbours,including much wealthier and more developed ones, like Singapore, Thailand, andMalaysia.
It continued by quoting forecast by economists from theWorld Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Asian Development Bank thatVietnam has the highest chances in the region to come out of thepost-coronavirus economic crisis in a relatively better shape.
“This is a significant shift in Vietnam’s position in ASEAN,which, as a latecomer to the market economy, used to be labeled among the“second-tier” economies,” it said.
The author noted Vietnam has also been taking up a morepivotal role in ASEAN, adding that its leadership attaches strong importance toASEAN norms and maintains a consistent foreign policy and has stepped up tosocialise these norms to the other newer members.
According to the magazine, amid the global crisis, the mainobjective of Vietnam’s 2020 chairmanship is to preserve ASEAN’s unity andsolidarity and prevent further erosion. The high expectations from the otherASEAN member states and dialogue partners reflect a level of confidence in thecountry’s diplomatic capability, it affirmed./.
By successfully organising the teleconferenced 36th ASEAN Summit amid complex developments of COVID-19, Vietnam has once again affirmed its proactive and responsible chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020, which is also the common assessment shared by many foreign leaders and experts.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence hosted an ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) via video conference on July 7, aiming to promote practical defence cooperation between ASEAN member nations and partner countries to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other non-traditional security challenges.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh, who is also Chairman of the ASEAN Moscow Committee (AMC), chaired an AMC meeting on July 31 with the presence of ambassadors of all ASEAN member countries in Russia.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the 36th ASEAN Summit (Photo: VNA) 
