Illustrative Image (Source: VNA) At the events, the Vietnamese delegation will continuemaking positive contributions to strengthening ASEAN connectivity and improvingthe bloc’s operation, while fostering intra-blocsolidarity and unity, and enhancingthe central role of the association amidst complicated developments in theregion and the world.
Along with boosting cooperation in narrowing development gapsto benefit ASEAN residents, Vietnam’s participation in the event is also achance for the country to bolsters its friendship and partnership with other ASEANmember states as well as the bloc’s dialogue partners, thus expanding itsregionaland international integration.
During the summit,themed “Partnering for Change, Engagingthe World,” ASEAN leaders will review the situation and orientations for thebuilding of the ASEAN Community, while discussing measures to enhance the centralrole of the association and its relations with partners as well as regional andinternational issues of shared concern.
As ASEAN is celebrating the 50thfounding anniversaryand the second year of the ASEAN Community, at the event, the leaders willfocus on seeking measures to effectively implement the ASEAN Community Vision2025 as well as action plans to strengthen intra-bloc connection, solidarityand unity and ASEAN’s central role.
So far, the community has made positive progress in realisingthe ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and blueprints in all the three pillars.
As many as 218 out of 290of activities (75 percent) inpolitics-security are underway at different levels, while 532 out of 611 (87percent) of economic measures included in the roadmap for the ASEAN EconomicCommunity (AEC) 2025 building have been implemented, and the AEC 2025Consolidated Strategic Action Plan has also been commenced.
ASEAN is also actively specifying the ASEAN Socio-CulturalCommunity’s blueprint with 109 actions.
In order to support the building of the ASEAN Community, thegrouping has also stepped up efforts to strengthen connectivity and narrow developmentgaps, andlaunched the third phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration withfive priorities of food and industry; trade facilitation; macro, small andmedium-sized enterprises; education; health care and welfare.
Along with enhancing its operational efficiency, theassociation will beef up ties with partners such as China, the US, India, theRepublic of Korea, New Zealand, Canada and the UN, while designing joint actionprogrammes with the remaining dialogue partners of Japan, Australia, Russia andthe EU.This year, ASEAN will organise a summit commemorating 40 years of tieswith the US, the EU and Canada.
ASEAN has also committed to maintaining and fostering peace,stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea,as well as setting disputes through peaceful measures, with full respect fordiplomatic and legal processes in line with widely-recognised principles ofinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In fact, ASEAN has showed its role and responsibility in buildinga favourable environment for peace, stability, maritime and aviation security,safety and freedom in the East Sea through promoting the full, strict andeffective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC) and collaborating with China to soon finalise a Code of Conductin the waters (COC).-VNA
VNA
