Việt Nam attaches great importance to its role as ASEAN Chair 2020. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam attaches great importance to its role as ASEAN Chair 2020, and wishes to build a strong ASEAN Community which is resilient to regional and global challenges, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng has said.

Briefing nearly 70 foreign ambassadors and representatives from embassies of ASEAN member states and ASEAN’s development partners at a conference at the weekend in Hà Nội, Dũng, who is also Secretary General of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee, affirmed joining ASEAN’s activities was among priorities in Việt Nam’s foreign policy, and the country would spare no efforts to successfully act as the ASEAN Chair 2020.

Việt Nam had selected the theme “Cohesive and Responsive” for ASEAN 2020, he said, holding the two elements are interdependent and complementary to each other.

He laid stress on five priorities of Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year, including strengthening ASEAN solidarity and unity, promoting regional connectivity and adaptability to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, fostering awareness of the ASEAN community and identity, stepping up partnership for peace and sustainable development, and improving adaptability and operational efficiency of the ASEAN apparatus.

Sharing cooperation priorities in the ASEAN Economic Community, Director General of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Trade and Industry Lương Hoàng Thái, head of Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) Việt Nam, said that Việt Nam would channel focus on boosting ASEAN’s strength via regional linkages, enhancing ASEAN’s central role in connecting global economies, and improving the bloc’s operational efficiency.

Regarding the ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community, the Department of International Co-operation under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs highlighted Việt Nam recommended such priorities as community connectivity through human resources development, social services for vulnerable groups; enhancing cultural exchange and raising awareness of ASEAN identity, reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates among ethnic minority groups, setting up cooperation mechanisms to fight against fake news, and promoting management of natural disasters, among others.

The foreign diplomats commented that ASEAN 2020’s theme and priorities were suitable to regional and global context, saying it shows Việt Nam’s sharp mind, proactiveness and high responsibility during its chairmanship year. — VNS