 |
| ASEAN leaders watch the sunset in Labuan Bajo on the AYANA Lako Di'a cruise ship. (Source: Office of the President of Indonesia) |
“ASEAN boat” before the ocean
The 42nd ASEAN Summit took place in Indonesia from May 9-11, in the context of complex and intertwined developments in the world and the region. The Ukraine crisis, fierce strategic competition between major countries; the risk of conflict and war; global security challenges in terms of climate change, epidemics, economic recession, energy and food security, cyber security, etc. The friction between the unipolar world order and the multipolar trend is increasingly evident.
In addition, the world picture is also somewhat fresh thanks to bright colors. That is the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development of regions, including ASEAN. Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to normalize bilateral relations after nearly 7 years of hostility; Syria confirmed the restoration of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and then with Türkiye. The Arab League decided to readmit Syria after more than a decade of being suspended from membership. The above moves in the Arab region and the Middle East show that the trend of shifting from confrontation to dialogue and cooperation is becoming clearer.
Europe falling into the vortex of confrontation between the West and Russia has further increased the geostrategic position of Asia-Pacific. The process of building the Community has achieved important results, ASEAN has become the 5th largest economy in the world; continues to be the focus of a series of regional linkage and connection initiatives, and has an increasingly important position in the strategies of major countries. At the same time, this region is also the place of fierce strategic competition between the US, China, Russia and other major countries.
In that context, as shared by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting on international and regional issues: ASEAN is in a good position, but also faces many challenges. Figuratively speaking, if we know how to take advantage of the currents and wind directions, the “ASEAN boat” will steadily surf the waves and reach out to the ocean. On the contrary, it may encounter “undercurrents” and “whirlpools” of intertwined and counter-currents.
Positioning, Orientation Vision to 2045
The theme of the 42nd ASEAN Summit “One ASEAN of stature: The heart of growth” reflects the goals and ambitions of the Community in the new period. In order to realize that determination, the Summit held 8 summits, many bilateral meetings between member countries; discussed and approved 10 important documents, guiding the building of the Community, intra-bloc cooperation and with partners until 2025, with a vision to 2045.
The Joint Statement on the ASEAN Community Vision beyond 2025 looks to the future, addressing challenges and trends within and outside the region in the next 20 years. The Joint Statement on strengthening ASEAN institutional capacity and effectiveness continues to affirm the commitment to maintaining ASEAN's centrality, unity and relevance amid global and regional challenges.
The conference affirmed its commitment to strong cooperation in many areas, with priority issues such as: promoting growth and recovery; promoting regional payment connectivity, increasing transactions in local currencies; financial stability; responding to non-traditional security challenges, especially energy security, food security, cyber security, etc.
Based on an objective assessment of the context, the world and regional situation and the results achieved in recent years, this Summit has selected the focus, set out the direction, goals, basic tasks and main solutions for the new period. Thus, ASEAN has positioned itself correctly and clearly oriented the path and future of development. Although there are still difficulties and challenges, both internal and external, there is a basis to believe that ASEAN will achieve its development goals in the new period.
The results of the Conference were achieved thanks to the sense of responsibility, solidarity and consensus of the leaders of the member countries. In which, Vietnam made important contributions.
Vietnam's message and contribution
Vietnam has always affirmed its consistent policy of considering ASEAN an important and inseparable part of its foreign policy. In that spirit, at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation delivered many important messages, contributing and proposing practical and effective policies and measures for the building of the ASEAN Community.
The Head of the Vietnamese Government emphasized three core issues that determine the identity, value, vitality, prestige and position of ASEAN, creating a foundation to take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges. These are: maintaining independence, strategic autonomy, striving to become the center of growth and adapting better and better to external fluctuations. Focusing on implementing breakthrough contents: initiating ideas, arousing self-reliance and unleashing resources. Vietnam also contributed many proposals on basic tasks and key solutions.
The first is to strengthen solidarity and unity, maintain independence, self-reliance and self-strengthening, which is the foundation for strongly promoting ASEAN's central role. Strengthening solidarity and unity is the core task for an independent and self-strengthening ASEAN. Only with solidarity and unity in will and action can ASEAN go far. ASEAN needs to maintain strategic balance in relations with partners, especially major countries; create and promote a culture of dialogue, consultative cooperation, and strategic trust building; and coordinate responses to common challenges.
The second is to promote regional connectivity in terms of institutions, infrastructure and people to remove bottlenecks, unlock resources and unleash development potential. To promote recovery and sustainable development, it is necessary to prioritize expanding the intra-bloc market, make efforts to negotiate and upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, synchronously and resolutely implement regional connectivity projects, and create strong changes in the investment, business and tourism environment. Pay attention to promoting cooperation in the digital economy, digital government, circular economy, power grid connection; cooperate in training high-quality human resources...
Third, people-centeredness is the goal and driving force for building the ASEAN Community. This is Vietnam’s fundamental viewpoint and also the core spirit of ASEAN. To do so, it is necessary to pay attention to and make efforts to narrow the development gap between regions and sub-regions, especially in remote areas. Sub-regional cooperation must be linked to the common cooperation programs of the ASEAN Community in all fields, expanding development space, ensuring a better life for all people.
To carry out the above tasks and solutions, ASEAN needs to promote a sense of responsibility, for the common goal, and harmonize national interests with community interests.
Discussing the international and regional situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated Vietnam's viewpoint, continuing to affirm ASEAN's principled stance on issues of common concern. The Prime Minister asked ASEAN to firmly support Myanmar in fully implementing the "Five-Point Consensus", for the people of Myanmar, for the solidarity, prestige and image of ASEAN, for the expectations of the international community; support the Indonesian Chair and Special Envoy to promote their pioneering role, leading ASEAN to achieve the set goals.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that protecting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation is both the benefit and responsibility of all countries. He proposed promoting the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); striving to build a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Vietnam believes that it is necessary to maintain an objective, balanced, responsible approach, in coordination with partners, to minimize the negative impacts of the crisis on the region, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development of the world.
During the two days of attending the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation had nearly 20 multilateral and bilateral activities; always closely following the themes, goals, focuses, priorities and basic tasks, and main solutions, demonstrating the determination to make substantial and effective contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community.
Vietnam's opinions and viewpoints received consensus from the leaders of member countries and international public opinion, were recorded and included in documents, contributing to the success of the 42nd ASEAN Summit. This affirms that Vietnam always has high unity between declaration and action, and is an active, proactive, and responsible member of the ASEAN Community and the international community.
As assessed by ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn, Vietnam has always made important, proactive and positive contributions to the ASEAN Community. The rapid transformation and many outstanding development achievements in recent years are not only valuable to Vietnam but also contribute to the region in the pillars of politics - security, economy and culture - society.
 | ASEAN 42: Determined to build a sustainable, inclusive, and inclusive ASEAN Community dedicated to the interests of the people Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized this when answering an interview about the results of his working trip to attend the ... |
Source
Comment (0)