Hanoi (VNA) ā August 8, 2022, marks 55 years in a journey of formation and development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Over the past more than five decades, ASEAN has become a community and a major economy in the world with extensive security-political and cultural-society cooperation. And Vietnam is always a proud responsible and active member with significant contributions to building an ASEAN Community as it is today.
Vietnamās imprints in ASEAN
Vietnam officially joined ASEAN on July 28, 1995. on the occasion of the 28th ASEAN Foreign Ministersā Meeting (AMM-28) in Brunei. Joining ASEAN was a strategic decision by the countryās Party and State, contributing to creating a new development foundation for it, consolidating a peaceful and stable environment, and taking advantage of external resources for development and improvement of its position.
Over the past 27 years, Vietnam has made many contributions to a unified, united, peaceful, stable and developed ASEAN, and played a pivotal role in defining goals and development directions and shaping major decisions of ASEAN.
One of the important highlights of Vietnam's contributions to ASEAN is the successful undertaking and hosting of many important ASEAN activities and meetings, contributing to strengthening solidarity and unity in ASEAN, and enhancing the associationās reputation. In particular, 2020 marks 25 years of its membership in ASEAN, and also its third ASEAN Chairmanship. Amidst difficulties and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam demonstrated its bravery as well as leading and proactive role of the rotating Chair.
Many important initiatives by Vietnam in 2020 have become common assets of the bloc, such as the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies (RRMS) for Public Health Emergencies, and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.
In 2022, with the theme of āASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Togetherā, Vietnam continues to contribute proactively, behave positively and share the responsibility with other member countries to overcome challenges, maintain solidarity, continue the momentum of the Community building, promote regional connectivity, effectively respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen the central role and position and voice of ASEAN in the international arena.
Increasingly developing Vietnam-ASEAN economic, trade cooperation
After 27 years, the economic and trade ties between Vietnam and ASEAN have seen outstanding developments. In 1996, when Vietnam joined the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), two-way trade between Vietnam and the other member countries was nearly 6 billion USD, but the figure increases six folds to around 60 billion USD at present.
Notably, in the 2010-2021 period, trade between Vietnam and ASEAN has grown tremendously. Vietnamās exports increased from 9.3 billion USD in 2010 to 29.1 billion USD in 2021, while its imports also surged from 14.5 billion USD in 2010 to 41.1 billion USD last year.
Last year, Thailand was Vietnamās largest importer in ASEAN, with a total turnover of 6.1 billion USD, followed by Cambodia (4.8 billion USD), and the Philippines (4.5 billion USD).
In 2022, Vietnam and the other ASEAN countries continue promoting investment and trade collaboration, and stepping up trade promotion, cooperation and connectivity for intra-regional enterprises.
With the motto of being a proactive, active and responsible member, Vietnam continues to work with the other member countries to strengthen ASEAN linkages and cooperation, enhance the bloc's solidarity, unity and central role, for the common goal of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region and the world./.
