Viet Nam serves as vital member in ASEAN’development path

August 8 marks the 55th founding anniversary of ASEAN which has become a Community anchored on three pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community .

Over the past 27 years, Viet Nam has demonstrated its goodwill, efforts, enthusiasm and responsibility, making significant contributions to the common achievements of the grouping.

Viet Nam joined ASEAN and became its seventh member on July 28, 1995. This was a milestone marking the regional integration process of Viet Nam as well as the cooperation and connection process of the region.

Right after joining ASEAN, Viet Nam promoted the admission of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to ASEAN, completing the idea of an ASEAN with 10 Southeast Asian nations.

In 1998, Viet Nam successfully hosted the sixth ASEAN Summit. The Ha Noi Action Plan introduced at the summit helped maintain co-operation and enhanced the position of the association during the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98.

Viet Nam also gained many achievements as Chairman of the 2001 ASEAN Standing Committee and Chairman of ASEAN 2010. The country helped promote the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, helping strengthen its role and position in the international arena.

Viet Nam has introduced many initiatives which were put into practice, including the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting with its partners (ADMM+) and the establishment of the ASEAN Commission on Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children.

Viet Nam played a key role in defining development goals and orientations as well as formulating major policies of ASEAN such as the ASEAN Charter, the 2015 ASEAN Community Construction Roadmap, the Vision 2020 and many other important agreements.

As a co-ordinator, Viet Nam fulfilled its role in connecting, expanding and deepening relations between ASEAN and strategic partners such as China, the US, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the EU, Australia and India.

Especially in 2020, Viet Nam took on the role of ASEAN Chair as ASEAN and the world had to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the theme of 'Cohesive and Responsive, Viet Nam led and coordinated joint efforts of ASEAN and its cooperation with partners to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate the pandemic's socio-economic impacts.

In 2022, under the theme " ASEAN: Addressing Challenges Together", Viet Nam continues to "proactively contribute, behave positively and share responsibility", together with other member countries to overcome challenges, maintain solidarity, build community, and uphold the bloc's status in the international arena./.