Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affars Phạm Bình Minh. Photo baochinhphu.vn

HA NOI - Advancing ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining regional peace, security and stability has been identified as one of five key priorities for Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh in an article recently distributed by the Ministry of Foreign. Below is a translation of the article.

As both the ASEAN Chair for 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021, Việt Nam has opportunities to showcase its role in the region and the world. Prior to this year’s ASEAN Chairmanship, Việt Nam hosted the 6^th ASEAN Summit in Hà Nội in 1998, and presided over the 34^th ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) from July 2000 to July 2001 and held the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010.

Since the end of 2018, Việt Nam has been preparing for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020. We are seeking to add new building blocks to the ASEAN Community building, and achieve synergy between our ASEAN Chairmanship and UNSC non-permanent membership in line with the Politburo’s Resolution 22-NQ/TW dated 10 April 2013 on international integration, and the Secretariat’s Directive 25-CT/TW dated 8 August 2018 on promoting Vietnamese multilateral diplomacy.

ASEAN came into being on 8 August, 1967 with the Bangkok Declaration, demonstrating its ambition for all Southeast Asian countries to work together for a region of peace, freedom and prosperity. Over the years, the dream of an ASEAN uniting the 10 Southeast Asian nations under its banner has become a reality.

The ASEAN Community was formed on 31 December, 2015, gradually establishing itself as a model community: politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible. ASEAN has thus become an important partner for countries beyond the region, and a central player in various dialogue and co-operation processes.

To realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Community has been striving for cohesion and consolidating its centrality in regional processes for peace, security, stability and development in Southeast Asia. The voice of the ASEAN Community is growing in importance in the evolving regional architecture and with regards to major international issues. Within the considerations of major powers, ASEAN has become a key partner for dialogue and co-operation in the region.

After stepping aboard the ship that is ASEAN in 1995, Việt Nam and fellow ASEAN member states have together bravely sailed through turbulent high seas. The resilience of ASEAN today bears the mark of Viet Nam’s tireless effort in cultivating the solidarity and unity that enabled ASEAN to surmount times of hardship and adversity. Assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship upon the 25^th anniversary of our membership presents us with multiple advantages and numerous challenges. Therefore, promoting vigorous emergence and sustainable development of ASEAN will be a practical contribution that Việt Nam can make to the community.

The world continues to witness uncertainties and increasing rivalry among major powers. ASEAN, located at the centre of a vast area connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is facing novel opportunities and challenges. With a population exceeding 642 million and an area of more than 1.7 million square kilometers, ASEAN represents a market with immense potential, a dynamic economy and a bright spot in the global economy.

ASEAN members have also been striving for new heights, harnessing the benefits of the fourth Industrial Revolution by adopting new technologies such as AI and cutting-edge robotics. However, the rise of protectionism and trade friction among major powers are posing challenges and hindering global trade and economic growth. At the same time, disparities in economic development among member states and demands for deeper integration in a new phase of development require suitable economic policies. Thus, ASEAN needs to maximise the opportunities, address challenges and avoid falling behind to maintain sustainable growth.

By choosing the theme of 'Cohesive and Responsive' for ASEAN Việt Nam 2020, we wish to highlight the decisive role of solidarity and unity in maintaining the sustainability of ASEAN.

Only a cohesive and advanced ASEAN Community can effectively respond to external influences and responsiveness will allow ASEAN to strengthen its cohesion, enhancing its overall capacities. This theme is built on the previous ASEAN themes in 2019 – 'Advancing Partnership for Sustainability' and in 2018 – 'Resilience and Innovation'. It has also earned strong support from ASEAN member states and partners.

Reality has proven that to persevere and respond effectively to turmoil in the region and the world, ASEAN needs to maintain solidarity and unity, bolster economic resilience, enhance its rapid responsiveness to emerging challenges, and foster innovation, initiative and reinvention to drive itself forward. Alongside reinforcing internal capacities, how to skillfully co-ordinate external relations and harness resources from our partners to serve shared interests are other puzzles that need to be addressed.

To translate the theme 'Cohesive and Responsive' into reality, Việt Nam has identified five key priorities for our ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, as follows.

First, to advance ASEAN’s active role and contribution to the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability. This shall be done by consolidating ASEAN’s solidarity and unity, fostering stronger cohesion and mutual support among member states, improving the co-ordination of ASEAN positions in addressing regional and international issues, promoting the formulation and observance of common rules and norms of conduct in the relations among states, and thereby allowing ASEAN to respond to any threats to regional peace, security and stability.

Second, to promote regional connectivity and integration, heighten our responsiveness and harness opportunities arising from the 4^th Industrial Revolution. This involves extensive economic integration and comprehensive connectivity within ASEAN and between ASEAN with its partners, and sustainable and inclusive economic, financial and social development grounded on innovation and the use of digital and novel technologies. The process would also include sustained efforts to narrow development gaps, build a quality workforce and improve social services for our citizens.

Third, to foster the ASEAN sense of community and identity by cultivating a set of ASEAN shared values and instilling these values among ASEAN's people, promoting an awareness and identity of an ASEAN Community united in diversity, and popularising the image of the ASEAN Community in the region and the world.

Fourth, to advance partnerships for peace and sustainable development with countries around the world. We seek to promote ASEAN’s role and contributions in the international community, and expand and elevate relations with partners across the world, thereby contributing to the formulation of the new regional and global architecture and rules.

To realise these targets, the fifth priority is to improve the responsiveness and operational effectiveness of ASEAN organs via  institutional reforms, and adjustment, improvement and upgrade of ASEAN’s procedures and standards. 

December 2018 saw the establishment of the ASEAN 2020 National Committee. With this landmark, the preparation for our Chairmanship has progressed in all dimensions, from working agendas, protocol, communications and culture, logistics, to security and healthcare. In this endeavor, Viet Nam is enjoying the support from fellow ASEAN member states, partners and friends, and the participation of all central and local agencies and most notably the entire Vietnamese people.

We are confident we will successfully fulfill our mandate as the ASEAN Chair for 2020, and contribute to ushering in a cohesive and responsive ASEAN and realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. As the ASEAN Chair, Việt Nam also looks forward to strengthening relations between regional and global organisations via our concurrent capacity as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. This would help advance ASEAN’s status and reinforce its centrality in the region and the world. VNS