Joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a decisionof great historical significance at both national and regional levels,Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has stated on the occasion ofthe 19th anniversary of Vietnam’s official membership in the bloc(July 28, 1995-July 28, 2014).
In an interviewgranted to the press, the diplomat said at the national level, thedecision paved the way for Vietnam to become more integrated intothe region, allowing the country to join hands in building a regionalenvironment of peace, stability and cooperation.
Italso created opportunities and momentum for the country to expandcooperation not only with regional countries but also major partners andother countries in the international community, thus enhancing itsstatus in the global arena, Vinh added.
Meanwhile, adding Vietnam as its seventh member also made itpossible for ASEAN to build a more united environment in the region,heading to the establishment of a 10-member community playing thecentral role in the regional peace, stability and cooperation, hestated.
The deputy FM affirmed that ASEAN membershiphas created a peaceful and stable cooperative environment thatVietnam needs to conduct reform, overcome war aftermath and pushregional and international integration. The country also benefits fromregional support and investment, while its image and position have beenelevated.
Discussing Vietnam’s contribution tothe bloc over the past nearly two decades, Vinh said the country hashelped strengthen ASEAN solidarity and contributed to definingorientations for the current and future operation of the bloc, whileworking closely with other members to promote the grouping’s centralrole in matters related to regional peace and security, including theEast Sea issue.
Since entering the association,Vietnam has held several ASEAN leading positions. Three years afterjoining the bloc, the country chaired the sixth ASEAN Summit in 1998,and then served as Chair of the association’s Standing Committee in 2000and 2001, he noted.
Notably, Vietnam successfullyperformed the role of ASEAN Chair in 2010, with many important decisionsof the bloc made during this year, including bringing into play theASEAN Charter and a roadmap for the building of an ASEAN Community,promoting the grouping’s central role, especially in the maintenance ofpeace, stability and cooperation in the region, including the East Sea,he said.
Currently, the country is working hard to make further contributions to the building of ASEAN’s post-2015 strategy.
Regarding the challenges facing the region currently, the officialsaid ASEAN is building a Community in an environment of great changeswith both traditional and non-traditional challenges as well asdifficulties posed by both internal factors and external impacts.
In order for the grouping to rise above the challenges and completeits goals, ASEAN should reinforce its solidarity in order to makestronger voice on regional matters, he said.
At thesame time, Vinh also pointed to the necessity to strengthen theassociation’s internal strength, with a focus on ensuring the progressof the roadmap to build the ASEAN Community.
Furthermore, the association should further promote its central role inall issues related to peace and security in the region, Vinh emphasised.
With a system of forums concerning regional peaceand cooperation, ASEAN and its partners should raise their positive andresponsible voice in all fields.
Specifically, interms of the East Sea issue, the association should underline theprinciple of strict implementation of international law, the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea , while supporting the peacefulsettlement of disputes without using or threatening to use force, hesaid.
Meanwhile, ASEAN should also take theinitiative in proposing and building regional codes of conduct so thatall countries, not only those in the region but also partner nationsjoining partnership in Southeast Asia share and abide by theseprinciples, the deputy FM said, adding that if ASEAN can do this, thebloc will overcome arising challenge and enhance the important role thatit has played over the past years.-VNA
In an interviewgranted to the press, the diplomat said at the national level, thedecision paved the way for Vietnam to become more integrated intothe region, allowing the country to join hands in building a regionalenvironment of peace, stability and cooperation.
Italso created opportunities and momentum for the country to expandcooperation not only with regional countries but also major partners andother countries in the international community, thus enhancing itsstatus in the global arena, Vinh added.
Meanwhile, adding Vietnam as its seventh member also made itpossible for ASEAN to build a more united environment in the region,heading to the establishment of a 10-member community playing thecentral role in the regional peace, stability and cooperation, hestated.
The deputy FM affirmed that ASEAN membershiphas created a peaceful and stable cooperative environment thatVietnam needs to conduct reform, overcome war aftermath and pushregional and international integration. The country also benefits fromregional support and investment, while its image and position have beenelevated.
Discussing Vietnam’s contribution tothe bloc over the past nearly two decades, Vinh said the country hashelped strengthen ASEAN solidarity and contributed to definingorientations for the current and future operation of the bloc, whileworking closely with other members to promote the grouping’s centralrole in matters related to regional peace and security, including theEast Sea issue.
Since entering the association,Vietnam has held several ASEAN leading positions. Three years afterjoining the bloc, the country chaired the sixth ASEAN Summit in 1998,and then served as Chair of the association’s Standing Committee in 2000and 2001, he noted.
Notably, Vietnam successfullyperformed the role of ASEAN Chair in 2010, with many important decisionsof the bloc made during this year, including bringing into play theASEAN Charter and a roadmap for the building of an ASEAN Community,promoting the grouping’s central role, especially in the maintenance ofpeace, stability and cooperation in the region, including the East Sea,he said.
Currently, the country is working hard to make further contributions to the building of ASEAN’s post-2015 strategy.
Regarding the challenges facing the region currently, the officialsaid ASEAN is building a Community in an environment of great changeswith both traditional and non-traditional challenges as well asdifficulties posed by both internal factors and external impacts.
In order for the grouping to rise above the challenges and completeits goals, ASEAN should reinforce its solidarity in order to makestronger voice on regional matters, he said.
At thesame time, Vinh also pointed to the necessity to strengthen theassociation’s internal strength, with a focus on ensuring the progressof the roadmap to build the ASEAN Community.
Furthermore, the association should further promote its central role inall issues related to peace and security in the region, Vinh emphasised.
With a system of forums concerning regional peaceand cooperation, ASEAN and its partners should raise their positive andresponsible voice in all fields.
Specifically, interms of the East Sea issue, the association should underline theprinciple of strict implementation of international law, the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea , while supporting the peacefulsettlement of disputes without using or threatening to use force, hesaid.
Meanwhile, ASEAN should also take theinitiative in proposing and building regional codes of conduct so thatall countries, not only those in the region but also partner nationsjoining partnership in Southeast Asia share and abide by theseprinciples, the deputy FM said, adding that if ASEAN can do this, thebloc will overcome arising challenge and enhance the important role thatit has played over the past years.-VNA
