VGP – Việt Nam just started its assumption of the ASEAN Presidency in 2010. It is a proper time to look back Việt Nam’s responsible and effective participation in ASEAN during 15 years of membership.
January 08, 2010 5:19 PM GMT+7
In July 1995, Việt Nam was officially admitted to ASEAN
at the 28th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and became the 7th
member of the association. Since then, Việt Nam has been fully participating in
all activities of ASEAN and making active contributions to the maintenance of
intra-group unity, enhancement of cooperation among ASEAN member countries,
peace and stability in the region.
Việt Nam sets to
mobilize all efforts and resources for the implementation of the ASEAN Charter
and three Blueprints toward the ASEAN Community in 2015
Earlier, the year 1992 marked a milestone in Việt Nam’s regional
integration when it joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and was
granted with an observer status at the annual AMM. The country also started to
participate in the activities of various ASEAN sectoral cooperation committees.
Việt Nam
was invited to the first meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 1994
and became one of its founding members thereof.
Việt Nam’s
successful hosting of the 6th ASEAN Summit in Hà Nội in December
1998 amid a regional financial and economic crisis was greatly appreciated by
ASEAN members and the international community.
With the adoption of the Hà Nội Plan of Action, the 6thSummit significantly
contributed to strengthening unity, enhancing cooperation and restoring ASEAN’s
image, particularly guiding the development and cooperation of the bloc in the
following year to realize Vision 2020.
From July 2000 to July 2001, Việt Nam performed as the Chair of the ASEAN
Standing Committee (ASC) and hosted the 8th ARF, 34th AMM
and other forums. During this period of time, ASEAN approved the Second
Protocol to the TAC and adopted the Rules of Procedures of the TAC High
Council.
Economically, the Hà Nội Declaration on Narrowing Development Gap came
out at this time, providing a framework to assist new members in the course of
integration.
Noticeably, during the review period, ASEAN for the first time conducted
direct consultations with the five nuclear powers in the framework of the
SEANWFZ Agreement.
ASEAN also made progresses towards the development of a Code of Conduct
of the Parties Concerned in the EastSea with China, laying the foundation for the
Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in 2002.
Under Việt Nam’s
chairmanship and coordination, ARF continued to move forward with the adoption
of the Concept Paper of Preventive Diplomacy and set up hotlines between ASEAN
leaders.
Since then, Việt Nam
has fully participated in and actively proposed initiatives to enrich the
contents of ASEAN cooperation. It was among the first countries to ratify the ASEAN
Charter which demonstrates ASEAN’s “unity in diversity”.
Việt Nam
took over the ASEAN Presidency in the context of intertwined challenges and
opportunities. The most dominant fence would be how to specifically translate the
ASEAN Charter and Blueprints for 3 development pillars toward the ASEAN
Community by 2015.
Whatever the challenges, Việt Nam
is poised to successfully drive the bloc forward as it possesses advantages,
including politic stability, economic impetus of ASEAN and a widespread network
of friends all over the world, said ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan during his recent working visit to
Việt Nam.
