Asean needs to adopt breakthrough thinking, sharper strategies to propel regional cooperation

HANOI: Building on the achievements of the past 60 years, Asean needs to adopt breakthrough thinking and sharper strategies to drive forward regional connectivity and cooperation.

The key directions are aimed at strengthening Asean’s development, bolstering its central role in the regional structure.

Party General Secretary To Lam made the remarks in his policy speech during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to Asean on Monday (March 10), at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The event was part of the State visit to the Republic of Indonesia, which also included an official visit to the Asean Secretariat by Lam, accompanied by his wife and a high-level Vietnamese delegation.

In his policy speech, Lam emphasised the importance of further consolidating intra-bloc solidarity and strategic autonomy, enhancing economic resilience through innovative development solutions, promoting Asean’s unique identity, strengthening the effectiveness of establishing behavioural norms and improving the operational efficiency of the Asean Secretariat and its specialised agencies.

Lam also highlighted Asean’s achievements over the past 60 years, as well as the important contributions and central role the organisation has played in maintaining peace, stability and promoting regional cooperation.

He also pointed out new challenges and opportunities arising for Asean in the context of a rapidly reshaping global landscape, characterised by a multipolar, multi-centre world, the explosion of scientific and technological advancements leading to fundamental changes in socio-economic life and the rise of non-traditional security issues such as climate change and cybersecurity.

Lam added that “Asean is a crucial pillar in Vietnam’s foreign policy and an inseparable part of Vietnam’s development and integration strategy”.

Starting with Asean, Vietnam has increasingly deepened its international integration and now maintains diplomatic relations with 194 countries.

Among these, Vietnam has established comprehensive, strategic, and overall strategic partnerships with 35 countries, including all Asean members and key Asean partners.

Vietnam is also a member of over 70 regional and international forums and organisations and has a network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with more than 60 countries and economies.

As a result, Vietnam has become one of the world’s top 40 economies and one of the top 20 in terms of foreign direct investment and trade volume.

Speaking on Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era, Lam said that Vietnam would be ready to contribute actively and proactively to global politics, the world economy and human civilisation.

Asean had been identified as the most directly relevant and primary multilateral cooperation mechanism.

Vietnam would continue to promote a sense of responsibility, contribute positively to Asean’s collective endeavours with innovative thinking, new approaches, flexibility in implementation, efficiency in actions and determination in results.

Speaking at the commemoration, Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, ambassadors, heads of delegations of several member states and partners at Asean, and the Executive Director of the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) all praised Vietnam’s proactive and positive role within the association over the past 30 years.

The ambassadors particularly commended Lam’s policy speech, which offered profound insights and a visionary perspective on Asean from Vietnam’s standpoint.

The Asean Secretary-General and ambassadors also shared their positive assessments of Vietnam’s significant contributions to the process of building the Asean Community, especially through its three terms as Asean Chair.

They also acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in promoting economic and trade cooperation within the bloc and with countries outside the region, fostering innovative initiatives, addressing global challenges and actively contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

The countries expressed confidence that, with strong commitment and the leadership of Lam, Vietnam would continue to prosper and remain a key driver in ensuring Asean’s success in this new phase of development. – Vietnam News/ANN