Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the virtual 36th ASEAN Summit (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam has made great contributions to economic growth and stability in theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian Professor Yeah KimLeng said in a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency’s reportersin Kuala Lumpur.
Yeah, who is Director ofthe Economic Studies Programme at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asiaat Sunway University, said since Vietnam joined ASEAN 25years ago, the country has been able to sustain a high economic growth rate.
He went on to say that ASEANhas been able to sustain an average annual growth of at least 5 percent. “Alarge part of the contribution actually comes from Vietnam because of its higheconomic growth.”
ASEAN is now recognised as one of the mostattractive regions for foreign investors, he said, adding that it has alsobecome an important part of the global supply chains.
A very important achievement isthat ASEAN has come together during the 36th ASEAN Summit to craft acomprehensive post COVID-19 recovery plan, he said.
The professor said Vietnam has played a veryimportant role especially in facing the extraordinary challenge and ensuringthat member countries are able to coordinate their efforts to contain thespread of the pandemic.
“We are fortunate in that many membercountries are able to contain the virus successfully. And of course, Vietnamhas led the successful countries.”
Under the chairmanship of Vietnam, ASEANmember countries can put together and agree upon a comprehensive regional planto accelerate the region’s economic recovery, he said.
Regarding the South China Sea, called the EastSea in Vietnam, the professor said it has become a very important area formaintaining peace and security in the region.
Over the last 25 years, ASEAN has togetherwith Vietnam’s role as a member managed to ensure continuing peace.
Vietnam has played an increasingly importantrole in driving the ASEAN agenda to be recognised as one of the world’s mostdynamic regions as well as a peaceful and prosperous region for investments andbusinesses to prosper, he affirmed./.
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