National ASEAN 2020 Committee makes debut

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and members of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee at the inception ceremony in Ha Noi on December 24, 2018. Photo: VGP

• National ASEAN 2020 Committee convenes first meeting

Speaking at the inception ceremony of the Committee, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged Viet Nam will strive to successfully host events as ASEAN Chair in 2020 in terms of contents, security and protocol, and expansion of national image.

The early debut of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee represents the active participation of Viet Nam in ASEAN, he stressed.

After more than five decades of its development, ASEAN has successfully buit a community for its population of 630 million based on three pillars of politic-security, economic, socio-cultural cooperation, he said.

This year, the bloc’s GDP is estimated to grow 5.1% to nearly US$3 trillion, making it one of the fastest economy in the world with the GDP size ranking 6^th.

ASEAN has signed six free trade agreements with seven biggest trade partners across the globe and 91 countries have appointed their Ambassadors to ASEAN and 37 countries have joined the regional Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).

Annual Summits have become major international events thanks to the participation of many leaders of global superpowers.

As the year 2020 marks the 25^th anniversary of Viet Nam’s membership in ASEAN, PM Phuc said Viet Nam is proud to have been a proactive, active and responsible member of the ASEAN family, joining hands with other member countries to consolidate ASEAN solidarity.

Viet Nam always regards ASEAN as a priority partner and the “cornerstone” in its multilateral foreign diplomacy, PM Phuc affirmed.

With new position and strength, Viet Nam expects to further promote its role to make more practical contributions to develop a resilient and innovative ASEAN toward a harmonious, increasingly prosperous, and responsible community.

Right following the inception ceremony, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh chaired the first meeting of the Committee./.

By Kim Anh