At the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodia on August 7 hoisted theASEAN flag at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation inorder to celebrate the 53rd founding anniversary of the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairsand International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, who presided over the event, saidsince its inception 53 years ago, ASEAN has grown from strength to strength,expanding both in size and scope.
Driven by the desire to safeguard and advance the peacefuldevelopment for the region, ASEAN has been able to prevent the escalation offrictions and conflicts into wars through peaceful means and diplomacy, hesaid.
"ASEAN will continue to deepen its engagement withexternal powers, both regionally and outside the region," Sokhonn added.
As populism, protectionism, and nationalism are on the rise,he said ASEAN should not be shy in upholding and advancing ASEAN centrality byplaying a constructive neutral role in this evolving regional architecture.
Speaking of ASEAN's joint effort to combat the COVID-19pandemic, Sokhonn said ASEAN has taken concrete measures to coordinate regionalemergency responses to the pandemic in order to save lives and livelihoods ofpeople.
Its decades-old multi-sectoral and multi-layered mechanismshave enabled ASEAN to manage and coordinate effectively regional policyresponses, he said, adding that the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and the ASEANCentre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, as well as acomprehensive economic recovery plan are such great examples.
On the economic front, Sokhonn said ASEAN is one step closerto the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)agreement later this year./.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairsand International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, who presided over the event, saidsince its inception 53 years ago, ASEAN has grown from strength to strength,expanding both in size and scope.
Driven by the desire to safeguard and advance the peacefuldevelopment for the region, ASEAN has been able to prevent the escalation offrictions and conflicts into wars through peaceful means and diplomacy, hesaid.
"ASEAN will continue to deepen its engagement withexternal powers, both regionally and outside the region," Sokhonn added.
As populism, protectionism, and nationalism are on the rise,he said ASEAN should not be shy in upholding and advancing ASEAN centrality byplaying a constructive neutral role in this evolving regional architecture.
Speaking of ASEAN's joint effort to combat the COVID-19pandemic, Sokhonn said ASEAN has taken concrete measures to coordinate regionalemergency responses to the pandemic in order to save lives and livelihoods ofpeople.
Its decades-old multi-sectoral and multi-layered mechanismshave enabled ASEAN to manage and coordinate effectively regional policyresponses, he said, adding that the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and the ASEANCentre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, as well as acomprehensive economic recovery plan are such great examples.
On the economic front, Sokhonn said ASEAN is one step closerto the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)agreement later this year./.
VNA
