Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced the theme of ASEAN Year 2020

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives the ASEAN Chairmanship hammer from Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The Prime Minister said that 2020 marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN Community. On the solid foundation of more than 5 decades of ASEAN development, member countries, although diverse in economy, history, and culture, continue to be closely connected by values, community sentiment, responsibilities, and interests under a common roof.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in the context of regional connectivity and community building efforts being promoted, and in the face of rapid and complex changes in the regional and international environment, the ability to maintain sustainable cohesion is more important than ever for ASEAN.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed: “In 2020, we hope to focus on strengthening ASEAN’s sustainable cohesion through consolidating solidarity and unity, increasing economic linkages and connectivity, deepening the values ​​and characteristics of the ASEAN Community, improving and enhancing the operational efficiency of the ASEAN apparatus, and promoting ASEAN’s partnerships in the global community.”

It is also through such sustainable cohesion that the ASEAN Community can enhance its capacity to proactively and effectively adapt to the opportunities and challenges that arise.

It is the strong development of science and technology, fluctuations in the strategic environment, global and regional economies, along with transnational challenges... that are daily affecting the stable and sustainable development of countries and people's lives.

“With that meaning, we have chosen “Cohesion and Responsiveness” as the theme of ASEAN 2020,” the Prime Minister stated. These two elements are closely intertwined and complementary to each other. A cohesive and developing community needs to increase its proactive adaptation to external factors and vice versa, the ability toproactive adaptationcan only be achieved if ASEAN is a closely-knit bloc.

A video introducing Vietnam was shown at the handover ceremony of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 to Vietnam. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam looks forward to active support and assistance from ASEAN member countries and partners to realize the spirit of the theme of ASEAN Year 2020.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated: “It is time for us to promote thinking and acting together as a unified and closely-connected entity to proactively adapt effectively and develop sustainably in a constantly changing world. Let’s think Community, act for the Community.”

After the Prime Minister's speech, the ASEAN 2020 Logo and a short video introducing Vietnam's ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 were shown at the ceremony.

Vietnam assumes the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020, a pivotal year in implementing the plan to realize the ASEAN Vision 2025 and also the 25th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN.

In preparation for its ASEAN Chairmanship, Vietnam has actively consulted ASEAN countries and partners to develop themes, priorities and initiatives for the 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship./.