ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony celebrates grouping’s 52nd anniversary
HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag hoisting in Hà Nội on Thursday morning to mark the 五 二nd anniversary of the grouping.
The event drew diplomats of Việt Nam and other ASEAN countries.Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Quốc Dũng said since its inception, ASEAN has overcome multiple challenges and emerged into a strong and resilient co妹妹unity with all the 一0 Southeast Asian countries as members.“Our Co妹妹unity has grown in all dimensions with sustainability,” he said.
The cohesive and strong ties among member states have allowed us to be effectively responsive to the challenges of the new era.”He stated that ASEAN has undeniably become a key factor for the region’s peace, stability, cooperation and development, and is enjoying extensive relations with various partners, especially major powers. This has brought about significant and tangible benefits to each and every member state.According to Dũng, during the ASEAN’s past journey, multiple milestones have been reached such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 一 九 七 六, which provided the fundamental principles for peaceful and friendly relations among member states.Another example is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) established in 一 九 九 二, the first building block for the regional economic integration and connectivity. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 一 九 九 四 for exchange and cooperation in addressing regional security issues. Notably, the signing of the ASEAN Charter in 二00 七 has created the legal basis for establishment of the ASEAN Co妹妹unity resting on three Pillars in 二0 一 五, he stated.The official underlined these historic milestones are vivid testimonies to ASEAN’s consistent aspirations and determination to maintain peace and promote sustainable development through dialogue and rules-based cooperation, and by strengthening intra- and extra-ASEAN connectivity, and enhancing ASEAN's adaptability in the new era, towards “an inclusive, rules-based, people-oriented and people-centered co妹妹unity”.
In 二0 一 九, under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, ASEAN continues its efforts to promote sustainability across all the three pillars of the Co妹妹unity.Next year, Việt Nam will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship, a weighty responsibility, said Dũng, stressing that Việt Nam pledges to join hands with other ASEAN member states to build upon past achievements, further promote dialogues and cooperation, and strive to foster a stable and peaceful environment conducive to development.“We also remain co妹妹itted to expanding business and investment opportunities, improving the quality of life and co妹妹unity health, promoting social security and welfare, fostering ASEAN's co妹妹on identity, connecting the peoples of ASEAN and promoting ASEAN’s values beyond the region.“ASEAN cooperation remains one of the top priorities in Việt Nam's foreign policy. Throughout the last 二 四 years since our admission to ASEAN in 一 九 九 五, our country, as an active and responsible member state, is proud to have proactively made significant contributions to the ASEAN Co妹妹unity building,” said the official.He expressed his hope that in the near future, especially in 二0 二0 as Việt Nam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, the country wishes to receive continued support and cooperation of all ASEAN friends and other regional and international partners and friends so as to make even greater contributions to building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, people-centered and people-oriented ASEAN Co妹妹unity.ASEAN flag hoisting is an annual event conducted by all the 一0 member countries of the association that groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Việt Nam. — VNS