5 priorities of Vietnam in ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020
(Baonghean) - The solemn ceremony on the evening of November 4 in Thailand marked the event when Vietnam officially took over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020. There will be many difficulties and challenges, but it is also an opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its role and position in the bloc of 10 countries, demonstrating its responsibility with the ASEAN Chairmanship hammer in a meaningful context.
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| Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam (second from right) and ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the meeting to admit Vietnam into ASEAN in Brunei. Photo: Chinhphu.vn |
2020 - a meaningful milestone
Vietnam officially joined the “common house” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 28, 1995, and is about to complete 25 years of association in 2020. Throughout that journey, we have always considered ASEAN as one of the top foreign policy priorities, always striving to demonstrate our role as a proactive, active and responsible member, contributing to the common work of the collective.
Besides, Vietnam always promotes solidarity and unity among member countries, consolidates the central role of ASEAN, helps the community grow stronger and its position is increasingly enhanced, and its voice is increasingly prestigious and important in the region and on the world stage.
Although this is not the first time Vietnam has assumed the “hot seat” of ASEAN Chair, 10 years ago, we held the rotating ASEAN Chair in 2010, leaving many good impressions, the strong imprints are the vibrant and practical programs and activities in the eyes of friends in the region and the world. That is a solid foundation, valuable experience for us to do better, to further promote this extremely important role in the coming year.
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| ASEAN has gone through 52 years of formation and development. Photo: ASEAN |
However, the context of the times has changed a lot. 2020 is considered a very important year not only for Vietnam but also for the whole of ASEAN, marking 5 years of building the ASEAN Community and a milestone showing that this bloc of countries has joined hands to go halfway towards the ASEAN Vision 2025.
That means, next year Vietnam will host many important events and conferences necessary to have an overview, review the journey that the ASEAN Community has gone through, as well as outline the direction for the next period. At the same time, we will also play a leading role, organizing meetings to review and evaluate mid-term achievements to be able to reach the ASEAN Vision set out in 5 years.
And we cannot forget to mention that Vietnam will assume the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, also in 2020. “Playing two roles” at the same time, but that will not be a burden, but an opportunity for Vietnam in particular, and ASEAN in general. Because in its new position at the United Nations, Vietnam will not only speak up for its role, but also be the voice representing the entire cohesive Community in the Southeast Asian region, thereby contributing to expressing and consolidating ASEAN’s position in the minds of international friends.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc officially received the gavel symbolizing the ASEAN Chairmanship from the Prime Minister of Thailand. Photo: ASEAN |
Thinking and acting for the Community
Receiving the “hammer of power” from the Prime Minister of Thailand - the country that has just completed its role as ASEAN Chair 2019, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc solemnly announced the theme of ASEAN 2020 chosen by Vietnam, which is: “Cohesion and Proactive Adaptation”.
This is a very correct and accurate topic, because as mentioned above, while ASEAN is promoting regional connectivity efforts and building the Community, the fluctuations of the regional and international environment require the ability to connect more sustainably than ever.
This has also been affirmed by the head of the Vietnamese Government to its neighbors in the region: "The glue that creates that connection is the ability to maintain the common denominator of strategic and economic interests among member countries as well as preserving and spreading the consciousness and identity of the Community among the ASEAN people."
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| The Prime Minister announced the theme of ASEAN Year 2020 under the chairmanship of Vietnam. Photo: VGP |
Inheriting and continuing the long-term efforts of the association with more than 50 years of history in promoting the self-reliance, creativity and sustainability of the Community, in 2020, Vietnam wishes to strengthen solidarity and unity, increase links and connections, deepen the values and characteristics of ASEAN, and promote partnerships in the global community...
That is the sustainable connection that we - Vietnam and the remaining 9 ASEAN member countries - need to aim for in order to proactively and effectively enhance our adaptive capacity in the face of opportunities and challenges, including the rapid development of science and technology, the ups and downs in the global economy, strategic issues, and challenges that require the involvement and resolution of many countries...
As Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc analyzed and affirmed, cohesion and proactive adaptation are two elements that “interact and complement each other closely. A cohesive and developed Community needs to increase proactive adaptation to external factors and vice versa, the ability to proactively adapt can only be achieved if ASEAN is a closely-knit bloc”.
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| Introducing the Logo of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. Photo: ASEAN |
With a positive starting attitude and a precise orientation right from the start, Vietnam expects to receive strong support and active assistance from other ASEAN members as well as partners, to join forces and make efforts to realize the spirit and wishes that we conveyed when proposing the theme of ASEAN Year 2020. The message that the new ASEAN Chair wants to convey to more than 630 million people of 10 Southeast Asian countries is that it is time to think Community and act Community!
Vietnam's five priorities during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020: (1) Promoting ASEAN's role and active contribution to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region; (2) Promoting regional connectivity and linkages, enhancing adaptability and taking advantage of opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution; (3) Promoting ASEAN community awareness and identity; (4) Strengthening partnerships for peace and sustainable development; and (5) Improving ASEAN's adaptability and operational efficiency.
