Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has appreciated Vietnam’s role in the 10-member bloc, stating that the country has a wealth of knowledge to share with regional countries.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Photo: VNA

Vietnam can offer an important experience to other nations in the region in the areas of economic growth, improving human resources, safeguarding public health, managing disasters and advancing external affairs, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn told the Vietnam News Agency.

The nation has played an active and responsible role in encouraging ASEAN to admit new members, contributing to the organization’s goal of uniting all of the mainland and island nations in the region and removing its geographical divisions.

The country, according to Secretary-General Hourn, has been very proactive in building a community based on the three pillars of politics and security, economy, cultural and social affairs, as well as strengthening the external relations of the bloc.

Vietnam participates in all ASEAN-established mechanisms and has made a significant contribution to the drafting of the ASEAN Charter, which serves as a blueprint for the ASEAN community’s growth.

By holding the ASEAN Chair three times, in 1998, 2000, and 2020, the nation has solidified its place within this regional organization and made great achievements, he said.

Moreover, Vietnam also has a wealth of experience in ASEAN integration operations, having alternately served as the coordinator for relations with dialogue partner nations and held a number of significant positions in international organizations such as the UN Security Council.

He noted that this is in addition to continuing to promote the bloc's development across a number of sectors and community pillars, as well as the development of sub-regions such as the Mekong sub-region.

Notably, the signing of numerous bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) has led to robust economic and trade development for the country, according to Secretary-General Hourn.

The role of Vietnam in ASEAN was impressively demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic when it chaired ASEAN in 2020. Former ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi singled out Vietnam for its outstanding performance during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year, saying the country has demonstrated strong ASEAN leadership in spearheading a collective regional response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed Vietnam has always displayed its leadership role very well, especially in 2020 when Covid-19 broke out. She said the 37th ASEAN Summit was very important for regional leaders to address the Covid-19 challenge and cushion the impact of the disease on the regional economy and citizens’ life.

As a result, Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said despite the disruptions caused by Covid-19, Vietnam has led ASEAN in crafting a cohesive response to the pandemic.

“Vietnam has made great contributions to economic growth and stability in ASEAN which is now recognized as one of the most attractive regions for foreign investors and becomes an important part of the global supply chains,” said Malaysian Professor Yeah Kim Leng, Director of Economic Studies Program at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University.

The flag-raising ceremony opens in Hanoi on August 8. Photo: Nhandan

ASEAN flag-raising ceremony opens in Hanoi

A ceremony to raise the flag of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held on August 8 in Hanoi to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the bloc’s founding (August 8, 1967 – August 8, 2023).

In attendance were the leaders of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Hanoi People’s Committee, and ambassadors and representatives of 10 ASEAN member states, Timor Leste as an observer country, and ASEAN dialogue partners.

ASEAN consists of 10 members namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It now has 11 dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the UK, and the US.

ASEAN flag raised in Hanoi. Photo: Nhandan

The annual ASEAN flag-raising ceremony honors ASEAN’s shared values and commitments to the people of the region while demonstrating the pride of all ASEAN member countries. 

The colors of the flag – blue, red, white and yellow – represent the main colors of the flags of all the ASEAN member states. Blue stands for peace and stability, red for courage and dynamism, white for purity, and yellow for prosperity.

“For human life, 56 years is a considerable amount of time, but for the region, it is only the beginning. With the advantage of a geo-strategic location, young and abundant human resources, and the desire for ever deeper and thorough integration, ASEAN still has a lot of room for growth,” Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said at the ceremony in Hanoi today.

ASEAN promotes the value of dialogue and cooperation. It is mostly seen in the rules of conduct that ASEAN has established, which help to shape and direct cooperative partnerships toward peace, stability, and prosperity. ASEAN’s efforts are amply demonstrated by the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The TAC, which currently includes 51 participating nations, has established itself as the cornerstone of regional interactions and conduct, Minister Bui Thanh Son said.

Representatives of ASEAN member states and the bloc partners at the ceremony. Photo: Nhandan