Jakarta (VNA) – Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN and Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) task force, on August 11 presided over a symposium and photo exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the IAI, an important milestone in the journey to narrow development gaps across the region.
The IAI supports new members in fully integrating into the ASEAN Community, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (CLMV), and Timor-Leste, which was recognised as a beneficiary last year.
The images on display at the exhibition retraced key milestones since the IAI was launched at the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit in 2000. The IAI features a total of 862 projects worth over 170 million USD.
In his opening remarks, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn underlined that the IAI has become a key mechanism in narrowing development gaps among member states, helping the CLMV fully implement the joint commitments and comprehensively participate in the bloc’s integration and community building processes.
Ambassador Huong stressed that the 25th anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm the determination to enhance cooperation, close development gaps, and work towards building a cohesive, inclusive, and resilient ASEAN Community for all members.
Also at the opening, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Kiya Masahiko highlighted the IAI’s importance in assisting less-developed member states to deepen their regional integration.
Tetsuya Watanabe, President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), noted the IAI’s significant achievements, including the implementation of over 860 projects, training of more than 51,000 personnel across the region, and reduction of the GDP per capita gap from 3.4 times in 2000 to 2 times in 2020. He also commended the CLMV’s progress in macroeconomic stabilisation, infrastructure development, and economic legal reforms.
During the symposium, delegates discussed the bloc’s approach to the IAI beyond 2025, emphasising the need to align the initiative with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Priority areas identified by member states included digital transformation, capacity building, infrastructure development, response to emerging challenges, sub-regional cooperation, innovative financing mechanisms, and climate resilience.
The meeting also served as a platform for ASEAN’s partners to share their priorities and potential support for the IAI in the years to come./.
