Workshop to promote Vietnam's Initiative on ASEAN Flag Placing

The workshop took place in person and online, with the participation of representatives from ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Military Attaches in Vietnam.

The workshop aimed to promote the realization of Vietnam's Initiative on the Concept Document on placing the ASEAN flag next to the national flags of ASEAN member states participating in UN peacekeeping operations, adopted at the 14th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in December 2020.

Major General Vu Thanh Van, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, expressed his thanks for the enthusiastic participation and active support of ASEAN countries for Vietnam's initiative; he believed that through the workshop, ASEAN countries would reach consensus on the contents of the Guidelines to soon realize this initiative.

At the workshop, representatives of the countries expressed their support for Vietnam's initiative; discussed, exchanged and contributed many practical ideas on the contents to complete the document set.

The guidelines clearly state the objectives and principles of the ASEAN flag; the specific use of the flag in terms of time, location, flag-hung position, parameters and design, flagpole design and implementation process... Some principles on the flying of the ASEAN flag stipulated in the Guidelines include: Complying with the ASEAN Flag Guidelines, the principles and guidelines for peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, the laws and regulations of the host country, the military regulations of each sending country and the Guidelines under discussion.

Vietnam's initiative aims to promote solidarity within the ASEAN community in general and among the defense forces of ASEAN countries in particular; at the same time, affirm the cohesion, development and consensus of ASEAN for the purpose of maintaining peace and stability in the world.

Once the Guidelines have reached consensus on content among member countries, the next steps will be taken to implement the Vietnam Initiative in practice.

At the workshop, Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, expressed his gratitude to ASEAN member countries for their positive and effective contributions to the completion of the Guidelines. Previously, Vietnam had received many contributions from ASEAN member countries at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Working Group (ADSOM WG) and the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Working Group Plus (ADSOM+WG). The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense also received contributions via email and in writing from ASEAN member countries.

News and photos: MY HANH

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