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DPM, FM: Solidarity is of great importance for ASEAN survival

VGP - Building ASEAN solidarity is of great importance for survival of the ASEAN Community as it is the biggest common denominator of the bloc’s interests.

August 01, 2017 4:23 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh made the above statement at an interview on August 1 on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN.

Solidarity would help ASEAN to maintain its central role, he added.

The group of ten countries will continue realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 which charts the path for building a politically cohesive, economically integrated, and socially responsible Community, said Deputy PM, FM Minh.

ASEAN will also focus on building a self-reliant and united Community that could maintain its central role, he added.

Deputy PM, FM Minh said ASEAN has gained numerous achievements in various fields over the past five decades of formation and development.

The member countries, featured with cultural diversity and different political systems, gathered together to become a group and that has contributed to maintaining peace, stability and friendly relations among themselves.

ASEAN has evolved to become the most dynamic community in Asia-Pacific with a 630 million market and combined GDP of some US$3 trillion.

Especially, ASEAN has created attractiveness to all countries having economic ties with the bloc through formation of free trade agreements.

Its mechanisms have not only helped consolidate internal bonds but also allowed powers’ engagement in the region. The mechanisms include those related to politics, security, and defense, becoming a distinguished characteristic of ASEAN and its value at regional and international levels.

Deputy PM, FM Minh, however, said ASEAN has also faced with many challenges like development gaps, traditional and non-traditional security issues, and competition among powers in the region.

Deputy PM, FM Minh stressed Viet Nam has made active and responsible contributions to ASEAN since it joined the group in 1995.

In his article released the same day, Deputy PM, FM Minh wrote that Viet Nam has made every effort to accelerate the admission of other Southeast Asian nations to the group and contribute to defining development goals, orientations, and making decisions in ASEAN.

Since the ASEAN Community took shape at the end of 2015, Viet Nam and other ASEAN member countries have actively built the community, strictly implemented commitments and raised initiatives in many fields. The country is one of the two best performers in implementing priority measures set in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint.

Viet Nam has also made significant contributions to expanding and strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, and successfully assumed the role of coordinator for relations between ASEAN and China (2009-2012), ASEAN and the EU (2012-2015) and ASEAN and  India (2015-2018).

As an active member, Viet Nam has played a key role in promoting solidarity and unity in ASEAN as well as its central role, especially in maintaining peace and security to serve the region’s development and boosting cooperation in prioritized  economic sectors.

The country has taken the initiative in putting forth action plans and proposing initiatives and feasible projects regarding social welfare, education, employment and environmental protection, aiming to raise people’s living standards.

Deputy PM, FM Minh pledged that Viet Nam will work harder to promote practical cooperation between ASEAN and its major partners, and uphold the roles played by ASEAN and the country itself in relations with countries and organizations worldwide.

ASEAN is of strategic significance to Viet Nam, he stressed, adding that with the resolve to ensure sustainable development, for the interest of present and future generations, with people as the center, it is hoped that the ASEAN Community would develop sustainably and prosperously./.

By Quang Minh