Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) and senior journalist based in Jakarta. (Photo: VNA) In an interviewgranted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s correspondents in Jakarta, Anjaiahsaid over the past 28 yearssince joining ASEAN under the motto of an ‘active and responsible’ member,Vietnam has made several contributions to a united, peaceful, stable, anddeveloped ASEAN that possesses a steady voice in the region.
As the first Indochinese country to join ASEAN, Vietnam “lobbied ASEAN member states to admit both Laos, Myanmar andCambodia, serving as a bridge between mainland states and island nations tolater form a group of 10 member states,” he said.
Vietnam has therefore played a key role indefining development goals and directions, along with formulating majordecisions within ASEAN. Among them are the ASEAN Vision 2020, the Hanoi Plan ofAction, the Vientiane Plan of Action, the 2003 Declaration of ASEAN Concord II,the 2007 ASEAN Charter, Blueprints forthe ASEAN Community, and the ASEAN Integration Initiative (IAI), Anjaiah stressed.
He said Vietnam’ssecurity was integrated with the whole of Southeast Asia. Vietnam also ledefforts within ASEAN to ensure regional security. Vietnam signed the Treaty onthe Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995 and was a memberof the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Vietnam has also helped ASEAN partner withnon-regional players — including China, Russia, India and the European Union (EU).
“All these years, Vietnam is effectively workingwith ASEAN to respond to threats to regional peace, security, and stability,while promoting dialogue and cooperation,” he continued.
Anjaiah held that Vietnam has played a key role in the2019 ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the 2002 Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea with China. It is currently working onnegotiations with China as it seeks to build a Code of Conduct (COC) in the EastSea.
“Vietnam has united with ASEAN at every opportunity,contributing to the grouping’s success. It has been working for greatercooperation for the sake of peace, development and prosperity of the whole region,”he noted.
Vietnamhosted ASEAN Chairmanship in 1998, 2010 and 2020 to boost ASEAN unity andcentrality, the researcher said, adding that it also successfully assumed therole of ASEAN coordinator with China from 2009 to 2012, the EU from 2012 to2015, India from 2015 to 2018, and Japan from 2015 to 2018.
It hostedthe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2006 and 2017 to promoteregional economic cooperation among ASEAN countries with Asia-Pacific economies.
“ASEAN is one of the important foundations forVietnam to gradually integrate into the world and create a favourableinternational environment to boost national construction and defence,” he said.
“All these years, Vietnam has joined ASEANmembers in transforming the region into a friendly, cooperative, and war-freepart of the world. Along with this, it has established strategic partnershipsand comprehensive partnerships with neighbouring countries, major countries,and many other important partners in order to garner wider internationalsupport for its security and development interests, including the East Sea.”
He emphasised that Indonesiaand Vietnam make up 60% of the ASEAN population and their combined economicstrength reaches 45% of the total ASEAN economy. Both can play an importantrole in ASEAN matters.
“Collaborationand cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia will make a major contribution toASEAN, which is committed to fostering its relevance in the midst of globalchallenges,” he said.
Anjaiahexpressed his belief both countries will turnASEAN into a growth engine with a leading role in regional cooperation andconnectivity, contributing to the shared goal of peace, stability andprosperity./.
VNA
