On the occasion of the up-coming 16thASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign MinisterPham Gia Khiem granted the Vietnam News Agency an interview about thesummit’s agenda and significance as well as Vietnam’s suggestionsfor the event.
Below are the interview details:
Q: Excellency Deputy Prime Minister, would you please talk about theimportance of the 16th ASEAN Summit that is taking place in a year whenVietnam takes on the position of ASEAN Chair?
A: The 16th ASEAN Summit - the first summit of ASEAN leaders in2010--is significant for boosting the establishment of a joint communityas it provides guidelines for cooperation within ASEAN. This is alsothe first meeting of ASEAN heads of state hosted by Vietnam duringits tenure as chair of the bloc. Therefore, the successful organisationof this summit is very important for Vietnam in particular and forASEAN in general, creating a good beginning for all of ASEAN’sactivities and tasks throughout the rest of the year.
This year is a turning point for the formation of the ASEANCommunity, which is set for 2015. The summit is an opportunity for ASEANto map out orientations to ensure the effective and well-timedimplementation of cooperation programmes and plans as agreed within theASEAN framework. This will give more impetus for ASEAN to quicklyrealise its goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
The summit also offers a chance for Vietnam to promote its image as apeaceful, stable and prosperous country with abundant historical andcultural values, which is developing dynamically and actively,contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and theworld.
Q: Would you elaborate on the major content of the summit?
A: At this summit, ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions onstepping up the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the process ofbuilding the ASEAN Community, the role of ASEAN in regional structures,economic recovery and sustainable development and responses to globalchallenges, including climate change. The leaders will also spend timediscussing regional and international issues of common concern.
Q: Could you talk about Vietnam ’s new suggestions at the Summitand their significance? What is Vietnam ’s message?
A: As the ASEAN Chair and the host country of the 16th ASEAN Summit,Vietnam has actively coordinated with other ASEAN members to build thedraft Agenda, Action Programme and the list of documents to besubmitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at this conference.
On the one hand, we have made suggestions and ASEAN countries haveagreed on the priorities of the Summit . On the other hand, asidefrom speeding up the building of an ASEAN community and theimplementation of the ASEAN Charter, we have actively proposed andcoordinated with other regional countries to build and submit to thehigh-ranking leaders at the Summit drafts on the Leaders’ Declaration onRestoration and Sustainable Development and the Declaration onCooperation in Coping with Climate Change.
This is the foundation for further strengthening cooperation withinASEAN to deal with arising challenges.
In the role of the ASEAN Chair, we wish to convey to internationalfriends a message on Vietnam as a “proactive, positive andresponsible” country which is doing its utmost together with other ASEANmember countries to successfully create an ASEAN Community in 2015.
Q: Could you tell us about the new aspects of the 16th ASEAN Summitcompared to previous ones?
A: If 2009 was a transitional year for ASEAN—where it was learning tooperate with its new apparatus and under the regulations of theCharter--2010 will be the year when the grouping officially operatesunder the Charter, creating a premise and helping formulate new rulesfor its operations in the following years.
As a conference among ASEAN leaders without the participation ofpartners, the 16th Summit will offer a chance for ASEAN to discussintra-bloc cooperation issues.
The 17th Summit , scheduled for later this year, will be anextended conference with the participation of the bloc’s partners. Thisis a new point compared to the non-Charter period.
Protocol etiquettes and programmes will be held in high esteem underthe ASEAN rules and directed towards reducing formalities and focusingon content in order to make ASEAN’s activities more effective andprofessional.
Q: How would you evaluate Vietnam ’s preparations for this Summit ?
A: In the spirit of pro-activeness, positiveness and responsibility,Vietnam has spent a long time preparing for the 16th ASEAN Summit.With best efforts contributed by sub-committees under the NationalCommittee for ASEAN 2010, ministries, sectors and Hanoi authoritiesthe preparations have been completed.
The summit will take place over the course of two days with the usualactivities: the opening ceremony, the plenary session, a working dinnerand a retreat meeting of ASEAN leaders. As ASEAN Chair in 2010, PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung will chair the opening ceremony, discussionsand press briefings at the close of the Summit . State PresidentNguyen Minh Triet will receive and host a party to ASEAN leaders.
Logistics, reception, media, security and medical care have all beenwell taken care of, showing the host’s respect in accordance with ASEANguidelines. Donations from leading Vietnamese enterprises havecontributed to helping reduce expenditures from the State budget. Insum, Vietnam is ready for the 16th ASEAN Summit.
Q: As ASEAN Chair in 2010, what priorities will Vietnam give topromoting the process of building an ASEAN Community in 2015 andimproving the international position of ASEAN?
A: The focus of ASEAN cooperation in 2010 and the ASEAN Chair’s leadingtask is to accelerate its actions to realise ASEAN’s goals. So, thetheme of ASEAN 2010 is “Towards an ASEAN Community: From Vision toAction”.
Vietnam ’s priority as ASEAN Chair is to contribute to boostingsolidarity and linkages among ASEAN nations, effectively implementingboth the Charter and the roadmaps on building an ASEAN Community, aswell as expanding and deepening cooperation between ASEAN and itspartners in order to maintain the role and position of ASEAN in theregion and the world.
With determination and a great sense of responsibility, on the basis ofthe experience of the past 15 years of participation in ASEAN and basedon cooperation and assistance from other ASEAN members and partners, wemaintain a strong belief that Vietnam will successfully execute itsduties as ASEAN Chair in 2010./.
Below are the interview details:
Q: Excellency Deputy Prime Minister, would you please talk about theimportance of the 16th ASEAN Summit that is taking place in a year whenVietnam takes on the position of ASEAN Chair?
A: The 16th ASEAN Summit - the first summit of ASEAN leaders in2010--is significant for boosting the establishment of a joint communityas it provides guidelines for cooperation within ASEAN. This is alsothe first meeting of ASEAN heads of state hosted by Vietnam duringits tenure as chair of the bloc. Therefore, the successful organisationof this summit is very important for Vietnam in particular and forASEAN in general, creating a good beginning for all of ASEAN’sactivities and tasks throughout the rest of the year.
This year is a turning point for the formation of the ASEANCommunity, which is set for 2015. The summit is an opportunity for ASEANto map out orientations to ensure the effective and well-timedimplementation of cooperation programmes and plans as agreed within theASEAN framework. This will give more impetus for ASEAN to quicklyrealise its goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
The summit also offers a chance for Vietnam to promote its image as apeaceful, stable and prosperous country with abundant historical andcultural values, which is developing dynamically and actively,contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and theworld.
Q: Would you elaborate on the major content of the summit?
A: At this summit, ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions onstepping up the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the process ofbuilding the ASEAN Community, the role of ASEAN in regional structures,economic recovery and sustainable development and responses to globalchallenges, including climate change. The leaders will also spend timediscussing regional and international issues of common concern.
Q: Could you talk about Vietnam ’s new suggestions at the Summitand their significance? What is Vietnam ’s message?
A: As the ASEAN Chair and the host country of the 16th ASEAN Summit,Vietnam has actively coordinated with other ASEAN members to build thedraft Agenda, Action Programme and the list of documents to besubmitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at this conference.
On the one hand, we have made suggestions and ASEAN countries haveagreed on the priorities of the Summit . On the other hand, asidefrom speeding up the building of an ASEAN community and theimplementation of the ASEAN Charter, we have actively proposed andcoordinated with other regional countries to build and submit to thehigh-ranking leaders at the Summit drafts on the Leaders’ Declaration onRestoration and Sustainable Development and the Declaration onCooperation in Coping with Climate Change.
This is the foundation for further strengthening cooperation withinASEAN to deal with arising challenges.
In the role of the ASEAN Chair, we wish to convey to internationalfriends a message on Vietnam as a “proactive, positive andresponsible” country which is doing its utmost together with other ASEANmember countries to successfully create an ASEAN Community in 2015.
Q: Could you tell us about the new aspects of the 16th ASEAN Summitcompared to previous ones?
A: If 2009 was a transitional year for ASEAN—where it was learning tooperate with its new apparatus and under the regulations of theCharter--2010 will be the year when the grouping officially operatesunder the Charter, creating a premise and helping formulate new rulesfor its operations in the following years.
As a conference among ASEAN leaders without the participation ofpartners, the 16th Summit will offer a chance for ASEAN to discussintra-bloc cooperation issues.
The 17th Summit , scheduled for later this year, will be anextended conference with the participation of the bloc’s partners. Thisis a new point compared to the non-Charter period.
Protocol etiquettes and programmes will be held in high esteem underthe ASEAN rules and directed towards reducing formalities and focusingon content in order to make ASEAN’s activities more effective andprofessional.
Q: How would you evaluate Vietnam ’s preparations for this Summit ?
A: In the spirit of pro-activeness, positiveness and responsibility,Vietnam has spent a long time preparing for the 16th ASEAN Summit.With best efforts contributed by sub-committees under the NationalCommittee for ASEAN 2010, ministries, sectors and Hanoi authoritiesthe preparations have been completed.
The summit will take place over the course of two days with the usualactivities: the opening ceremony, the plenary session, a working dinnerand a retreat meeting of ASEAN leaders. As ASEAN Chair in 2010, PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung will chair the opening ceremony, discussionsand press briefings at the close of the Summit . State PresidentNguyen Minh Triet will receive and host a party to ASEAN leaders.
Logistics, reception, media, security and medical care have all beenwell taken care of, showing the host’s respect in accordance with ASEANguidelines. Donations from leading Vietnamese enterprises havecontributed to helping reduce expenditures from the State budget. Insum, Vietnam is ready for the 16th ASEAN Summit.
Q: As ASEAN Chair in 2010, what priorities will Vietnam give topromoting the process of building an ASEAN Community in 2015 andimproving the international position of ASEAN?
A: The focus of ASEAN cooperation in 2010 and the ASEAN Chair’s leadingtask is to accelerate its actions to realise ASEAN’s goals. So, thetheme of ASEAN 2010 is “Towards an ASEAN Community: From Vision toAction”.
Vietnam ’s priority as ASEAN Chair is to contribute to boostingsolidarity and linkages among ASEAN nations, effectively implementingboth the Charter and the roadmaps on building an ASEAN Community, aswell as expanding and deepening cooperation between ASEAN and itspartners in order to maintain the role and position of ASEAN in theregion and the world.
With determination and a great sense of responsibility, on the basis ofthe experience of the past 15 years of participation in ASEAN and basedon cooperation and assistance from other ASEAN members and partners, wemaintain a strong belief that Vietnam will successfully execute itsduties as ASEAN Chair in 2010./.
