Next year will be a landmark in the development of the ASEAN bloc as it celebrates its golden jubilee and 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Charter, Vietnamese officials said yesterday. — Photo zing.vn

HÀ NỘI — Next year will be a landmark in the development of the ASEAN bloc as it celebrates its golden jubilee and 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Charter, Vietnamese officials said yesterday.

The common view emerged at a meeting held in Hà Nội to review ASEAN co-operation in 2016 and set orientations for coming years.

The meeting was attended by representatives of over 20 ministries and sectors.

The delegates also agreed that complicated and unpredictable changes in the region and the world posed challenges to the solidarity, unification and central role of ASEAN, requiring the bloc to bring in new vitality for development of the ASEAN Community.

There was consensus that Việt Nam should continue to be active, responsible and take initiatives to reinforce ASEAN co-operation.

Towards this, the country should further enhance implementation of programmes and plans for building the ASEAN Community, and work out priorities for the Philippines’s ASEAN Chairmanship next year, the meeting decided.

Building a people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN Community through continued strengthening of the rights of women, children and migrant labourers, facilitating the progress of youth, fostering comprehensive growth by assisting small and medium-sized enterprises, and reducing the cost of doing business were identified as priorities.

Việt Nam should step up efforts for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and early finalisation of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters, delegates said. 
The country should also contribute to developing ASEAN diplomatic relations in a more intensive and practical manner by continuing its role as co-ordinating country for ASEAN-India relations, and successfully hosting the meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties, they added. 
The meeting also decided that efforts will be made to improve performance of co-operation mechanisms within the ASEAN framework and between the bloc and its partners. 
Delegates underscored the significance of 2016 as the first year after the formation of the ASEAN Community and the importance of realising ASEAN Vision 2025.

The meeting noted that ASEAN has promoted the compilation and ratification of action plans and work plans from 2016-20; worked on building a masterplan for ASEAN Connectivity; and furthered implementation of the third-phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). The IAI seeks to assist Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Việt Nam countries.

Operational effectiveness of ASEAN departments and ASEAN Secretariat has been enhanced, delegates noted. 

In 2016, Việt Nam completed its commitments and made efficient contributions to all co-operation areas within ASEAN, as demonstrated by implementation plans drawn up by various ministries and sectors to realise the ASEAN Vision 2025.

Việt Nam was also proactive in reinforcing the solidarity, unification and central role of ASEAN as it dealt with major challenges in the region, especially the East Sea (South China Sea).

Việt Nam will actively participate in and organise activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the bloc next year at home and broad, promoting its profile and benefits, delegates decided. — VNS