Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore launches Video ASEAN Gala 2020

Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, in conjunction with other ASEAN missions in the city state, has launched the video ASEAN Gala 2020 within the framework of the ASEAN Gala Night 2020, an annual event aimed at promoting ASEAN culture and strengthening solidarity in the region.

Vietnamese Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong affirmed that the bloc has posted major achievements under the leadership of Vietnam as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, especially in the fight against COVID-19, maintaining supply chains to gradually recover the regional economy, and strengthening ASEAN’s central role in resolving regional and global issues.

Addressing the event, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishman applauded ASEAN member countries’ diplomatic missions for their coordination in organising the programme.

He congratulated Vietnam on its adaptive efforts and coordination in ensuring the implementation of the ASEAN action plan and priorities in the context of the complex development of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

Balakrishman affirmed that the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the issuance of the ASEAN Declaration on the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework, the launch of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, and the approval of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework not only demonstrate the effectiveness of close cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partner countries, but also serve as a foundation for ASEAN to better recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

He underlined the need to maintain intra-bloc solidarity and the central role played by the group in promoting cohesion and responsiveness in order to cope with new and unavoidable crises in the future.

Video ASEAN Gala 2020 brings to viewers a portrait of the diverse culture in ASEAN member countries while reflecting the spirit of intra-bloc solidarity in adapting to the most extreme difficulties and challenges.

The video was published on websites and official social networks by the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN member countries’ embassies in Singapore from December 8./.