Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – With the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020,Vietnam is not only an active ASEAN member but also a strong, trustworthy andspecial mainstay, especially at a time when ASEAN has to face challenges likeCOVID-19 pandemic at present, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Addressing a conference of the ASEANNational Committee 2020 in Hanoi on December 11, PM Phuc said on the back ofstrong will, determination and actions of the ASEAN Community, effectivecooperation with partners and helm of Vietnam, the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020has been a complete and substantial success with a record number of adopteddocuments and Vietnam’s initiatives and priorities becoming a common asset ofthe bloc.
He highlighted success in ensuringsecurity and safety and receptions held in high esteem, as well as popularisingthe images of peaceful and stable ASEAN Community and Vietnam to internationalfriends.
The PM also expressed his pride in thesuccess of the 41st GeneralAssembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) and theeighth meeting of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ).
With all adopted regional strategies, he said they are ahallmark of the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, adding that it couldbe affirmed that its theme “Cohesive and Responsive” suits the circumstance,especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He reviewed progress in the buildingof ASEAN Community in the spirit of maintaining its central role. Under thedirection of Vietnam, ASEAN actively and flexibly adapted to uncertainties. Forthe first time, the ASEAN Summit had been held thrice this year instead oftwice.
According to him, ASEAN’s success hasbrought about invaluable lessons in terms of pooling collective power not onlyon regional but also global scale in response to common challenges of thehumankind.
With achievements throughout 2020, Vietnam’sstrong will, brainpower and stature have been shown clearly and fully, leavinga hallmark during over 50 years of ASEAN development, he said.
Throughout 25 years of entry toASEAN, Vietnam has made important contributions to the grouping and become acrucial member building rules in ASEAN and the region.
Looking back on ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, PM Phuc mentioned invaluablelessons, including unified directions of the Party and State leaders and their close watch on national external activities this year, tapping the collective powerof the entire political system, social organisations and people to contributeto the success of the year, notably the effective collaboration between theGovernment and National Assembly organs in organising AIPA-41 and ASEAN 2020.
The third lesson is upholding Vietnam’s diplomatic identity: consistentlypursuing goals while flexibly adopting strategies to turn risks intoopportunities, together with sincerity and integrity for common benefits andresponsibilities.
The fourth is active, proactive andthorough preparations in terms of agenda, reception, security and communications for thecountry’s major external activities.
The fifth is the importance of multilateraldiplomacy and the role of ASEAN in Vietnam’s external guideline of smoothly combiningbilateral and multilateral diplomacy, tapping the effectiveness of multilateralevents to deepen bilateral ties, and pooling international resources fornational development.
Thesixth lesson is the harmonious combination between internal and external relations.The success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 was greatly attributed toVietnam's achievements in performing the dual tasks of controlling the pandemicand recovering socio-economic development, supporting businesses and takingcare of people's lives.
Emphasising the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, the Prime Ministersaid that this is a comprehensive and complete success in all aspects, fromcontent and reception work to security and health care. The information, communications,culture, and promotion were implemented methodically and effectively. In theentire 36th and 37th ASEAN Summits, there were not anymajor incidents or errors occurring on all fronts.
On this occasion, on behalf of the Government, PM Phuc praisedall leaders, officers, soldiers, employees of ministries, departments, agenciesfrom central to local levels, as well as businesses, sponsors, media agenciesand people nationwide for their joint efforts to contribute to the overallsuccess of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020.
In the coming time, in the context of complicated and unpredictabledevelopments in the world and the region, and heavy foreign relation tasks, theGovernment leader agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tocontinue maintaining and promoting the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year2020 in order to raise Vietnam's global position and boost its activeinternational economic integration.
Vietnam should actively implement the priority tasks of ASEAN, especially theinitiatives put forth by the country during the chairmanship year, he said,adding it will join hands with other ASEAN countries to fight the COVID-19pandemic and promote overall and sustainable economic recovery, while takingadvantage of favourable opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).
The PM said that the comprehensive and resounding success of the ASEAN ChairmanshipYear 2020 is a new victory of the Party's multilateral foreign policy. “This providesnew vitality for us to confidently and proactively make greater victories inthe process of deep and effective international integration,” he concluded./.
