At a ceremony to hand over the ASEAN Chair to Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam attaches much importance to its role as theASEAN Chair 2020, and wishes to build a strong ASEAN Community which isresilient to regional and global challenges, Deputy Minister of Foreign AffairsNguyen Quoc Dung has said.
Briefing nearly 70 foreign ambassadors and representatives from embassies ofASEAN member states and ASEAN’s development partners at a conference in Hanoi,Dung, who is also Secretary General of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee, affirmedjoining ASEAN’s activities is among the priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy,and the country will spare no efforts to successfully act as the ASEAN Chair2020.
Vietnam has selected the theme “Cohesive and Responsive” for ASEAN 2020, hesaid, holding the two elements are interdependent and complimentary to eachother.
He laid stress on five priorities of Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year,including strengthening ASEAN solidarity and unity, promoting regionalconnectivity and adaptability to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, fosteringawareness of ASEAN community and identity, stepping up partnership for peaceand sustainable development, and improving adaptability and operationalefficiency of the ASEAN apparatus.
Sharing cooperation priorities in the ASEAN Economic Community, DirectorGeneral of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Tradeand Industry Luong Hoang Thai, head of Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM)Vietnam, said that Vietnam will channel focus on boosting ASEAN’s strength viaregional linkages, enhancing ASEAN’s central role in connecting globaleconomies, and improving the bloc’s operational efficiency.
Regarding the ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community, Deputy Director General of theDepartment of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs, highlighted Vietnam recommended such priorities ascommunity connectivity through human resources development, social services forvulnerable groups; enhancing cultural exchange and raising awareness of ASEANidentity, reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates among ethnic minoritygroups, setting up cooperation mechanisms to fight against fake news, and promotingmanagement of natural disasters, among others.
The foreign diplomats commented the ASEAN 2020’s theme and priorities are suitableto regional and global context, saying it shows Vietnam’s sharp mind,proactiveness and high responsibility during its chairmanship year./.
VNA
