55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son wrote an article entitled ’55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community’ on the 55th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-2022).
55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community ảnh 1Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)- Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son wrote an article entitled ’55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity,One Community’ on the 55th anniversary of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-2022).

Following is the full text of the article:

“On August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) was established, initiating the process of extensive integration forthe sake of peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region.

From a group of Southeast Asian nations divided by wars, after 55years of growth, ASEAN is today one of the most important, reputable, andsuccessful regional organisations in the world, a ‘common home’ for 650 millionpeople in 10 Southeast Asian countries with diverse culture, the fifth largesteconomic community in the world, and an important and reliable partner of manycountries in the world, and an organisation that holds a central role in themany important dialogue, cooperation and connectivity processes in the region.

Thejourney to build an ASEAN Community with shared vision and identity

The creation of ASEAN 55 years ago has reflected the aspiration ofmany countries in the region for peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, anddevelopment. Overcoming the vicissitudes of time and adapting to the changes inthe region and the world at large, ASEAN has been growing consistently andperfecting itself on multiple fronts.

In 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN laid the foundation forthe ‘common home’ connecting 10 Southeast Asian countries.

In 1997, for the first time ever, ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Vision2020 on a community “cohesive in shared identity,” satisfying the aspirationsof the member states for a Southeast Asian region “where rivers and mountainsno longer divide but unite us in friendship and cooperation.” Inparticular, the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015 with three pillars ofsecurity-political, economic, and socio-cultural has raised the process ofcooperation and regional linkage to a new height for the sake of peace,cooperation, and mutual prosperity.

The “ASEAN Way,” based on the basic principles of internationallaw, solidarity, consensus, non-interference in internal affairs, is alwayspreserved, fostered, promoted, and has built value and identity for ASEAN.

It is the “ASEAN Way” that has helped ASEAN and its membercountries overcome the turbulent periods of the region and the world. At thesame time, when successfully overcoming challenges and difficulties, ASEANbecomes more mature, the spirit of solidarity and unity is enhanced, and ASEAN’smethods and identity shine ever more brightly. As a result, ASEAN has affirmedits prestige, position, and central role, expanding substantive and deeperrelations with its partners, and winning extensive and practical internationalsupport to promote the development and integration of ASEAN.

To date, ASEAN has a dialogue partnership with 11 importantcountries and international organisations (China, USA, Russia, Japan, theRepublic of Korea, India, EU). Many stances and regulations of ASEAN such asthe ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), etc. are welcomedand embraced by the international community.

Being faithful to its purpose and operating principles, ASEAN hasplayed an important role in promoting dialogue, cooperation, andconfidence-building among countries inside and outside the region in order tomaintain peace, stability, development, and cooperation in the region.

On the basis of upholding international law, settling disputes anddisagreements via peaceful means in accordance with international law and the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ASEAN has been makingimportant contributions to the maintenance of a peaceful and stable environmentin the South China Sea, which has been recognised and supported by the internationalcommunity.

Promoting integration and economic linkage has always been acentral content in the ASEAN integration process for the past 55 years. Todate, intra-regional trade accounts for about 25% of ASEAN’s total trade. ASEANGDP in 2021 reached 3,360 billion USD, an increase of more than 30% compared to2015 when the ASEAN Community was established. In addition, ASEAN is also atthe centre of an open economic space with a network of eight free tradeagreements (FTAs) including the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) andseven FTAs with important partners, of which the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP) is meant to create a free trade area that accountsfor 30% of the world’s population and 32% of global GDP.

After 55 years of construction and development, ASEAN can be proudof being a model of successful regional integration. The achievements have beena solid foundation for ASEAN to strive to fulfil the ASEAN Community Vision2025 and build the ASEAN Community Vision Post-2025 to further strengthen theunity, resilience, and responsiveness of the ASEAN Community. Unity is formaking consensus, promoting community awareness, shared responsibility for thesake of long-term mutual benefits of the ASEAN Community, for the maintenanceof peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region. Resilience isfor maintaining the fortitude, promoting internal potentials and strengths ofeach ASEAN member state and of the whole ASEAN Community.

Responsivenessis for maintaining self-confidence, spirit of dynamism and innovation tosteadily rise against the complex changes in the region and in the world.

Vietnamfor a united, strong, and developed ASEAN

ASEAN holds an important position in Vietnam’s foreign policy andinternational integration efforts. Joining ASEAN in 1995 was a strategicdecision of our Party and State, contributing to setting a new stage ofinternational integration and development of the country, consolidating apeaceful, stable and competitive environment, capitalising on externalresources for the construction and defence of the Fatherland as well as toenhance the prestige and position of the country.

Consistent with the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance,peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralisation,diversification, and respect for ASEAN’s principles, methods and identity, Vietnamhas seriously fulfilled membership commitments and obligations, made manyimportant contributions to the strengthening of the ASEAN solidarity andrealisation of the idea of ASEAN consisting of 10 member countries, buildingthe ASEAN Community, and realising the ASEAN Vision 2025.

The times when Vietnam took over the ASEAN Chairmanship, theassociation faced a lot of challenges. In particular, as the Chair of ASEAN2020, in the face of unprecedented difficulties caused by the COVID-19pandemic, Vietnam has persisted in ASEAN’s principles, fully embodying thespirit of cohesion and responsiveness, and helping steer the ASEAN ship throughturbulence, maintain the momentum of regional cooperation and connectivity, andorient the development of the ASEAN Community in the new period.

Implementing the foreign policy set in the 13th National PartyCongress, Vietnam will continue to work with ASEAN countries to further promotethe identity and central role of ASEAN, build a united and strong ASEANCommunity, bring essential benefits to all ASEAN members as well as partnersinside and outside the region.

With the motto of ‘proactive, active, sincere, reliable andresponsible,’ Vietnam strives to do its best together with ASEAN to continuewriting successful chapters on building the ASEAN Community, making importantcontributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the regionand in the world./.

VNA

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