Three decades of Vietnam in ASEAN: A journey to the open sea

'30 years of participating in ASEAN can be likened to a sea voyage, where the Vietnamese boat, from its first uncertain strokes, has gradually become more confident in rowing to confidently sail out to sea today,' Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang recalled when looking back at Vietnam's three-decade journey in ASEAN.

The 14th ASEAN-UN Summit in October 2024 in Laos. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Dear Deputy Minister, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's official accession to ASEAN, could you please outline the "steps" in Vietnam's integration journey under the common roof of ASEAN? If you could "name" each of those steps, what would they be?

30 years of participating in ASEAN can be likened to a sea voyage, where the Vietnamese boat, from its first uncertain strokes, has gradually become more steady in its oars to confidently sail out to the open sea today.

Setting sail - The starting point was when Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995. Participating in a completely new space of cooperation, we were very aware of the need to seriously learn, get acquainted and keep up with regional life.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang. (Photo: Hoang Hong)

With a spirit of openness and responsibility, we not only strived to fulfill our membership obligations, but also demonstrated an active role early on, as demonstrated by our successful hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 1998 and our important voice in promoting the completion of the process of admitting all 10 Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of ASEAN in 1999.

Steady Rowing - The next stage is when the Vietnamese boat gradually integrates more deeply into the regional flow. We not only participate fully, but also proactively contribute to shaping ASEAN's strategic decisions. Notable contributions include Vietnam's initiation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus mechanism, chairing the development of the first master plan on ASEAN connectivity, and promoting the expansion of the East Asia Summit's membership to include partners from the United States and Russia. These initiatives demonstrate Vietnam's remarkable maturity in thinking and action.

Overcoming the waves - Facing the fluctuations of the times, overcoming the waves is the characteristic of Vietnam's participation in the recent period. In particular, the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 has left a deep impression of Vietnam's mettle and leadership capacity during the difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme "Cohesion and Proactive Adaptation" of 2020 not only meets practical requirements, but also arouses the spirit of solidarity and overall strength, helping ASEAN overcome difficulties, maintain the momentum of cooperation and gradually recover after the pandemic. That spirit does not stop at one year of Chairmanship, but continues to spread, further strengthening ASEAN's self-reliance and strategic autonomy.

Reaching out to the ocean - After 30 years of persistent participation and contribution, with new position and strength, with the aspiration to reach out, Vietnam is confidently reaching out to the ocean. Meanwhile, ASEAN is facing new opportunities after approving the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and preparing to admit Timor Leste as the 11th member.

As General Secretary To Lam emphasized in his policy speech at the ASEAN Secretariat, “Facing a new historical starting point, Vietnam and ASEAN are moving towards ambitious goals.” Therefore, with increasingly high expectations placed on ASEAN and Vietnam, we are determined to make more substantial and effective contributions to the regional cooperation process, which is also contributing to the successful implementation of the country’s goals in the coming decades.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters co-chaired the ASEAN-New Zealand Conference within the framework of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on July 10 in Malaysia. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Before a new historical starting point, a new era of development, both Vietnam and ASEAN have greater aspirations and visions. According to the Deputy Minister, how can this parallel complement each other so that Vietnam can rise up with the "appearance" of ASEAN and ASEAN can grow strong with the mark of Vietnam?

Since the time we joined ASEAN, the mutual relationship between ASEAN and Vietnam has been formed and has become increasingly clear over the past 30 years. ASEAN has brought Vietnam strategic benefits, contributing to strengthening peace, security, supporting development and raising the country's position. In return, as a proactive, active and responsible member, Vietnam has made many practical contributions to ASEAN's journey of growth, together cultivating a united, self-reliant and sustainably developing ASEAN Community.

Entering a new stage of development, when both ASEAN and Vietnam have strong aspirations to reach new heights, we need to further promote this mutual relationship based on existing common values, new driving forces that are forming, and a long-term vision for an inclusive and sustainable future.

First of all, we need to strengthen the core values that have made ASEAN successful and its identity over the past 60 years. These are solidarity, consensus and unity in diversity - the most valuable assets of ASEAN that Vietnam and its member countries always cherish and preserve.

In the current context, when strategic competition is fierce and the trend of fragmentation and polarization is increasingly evident, these values continue to be the strong binding force, helping ASEAN to firmly overcome difficulties and challenges. In this common effort, Vietnam will always be a bridge of trust and responsibility, helping to harmonize interests and find common ground amid differences, contributing to building a common consensus of ASEAN.

Second, promoting and optimizing the potential of development drivers. To take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges from outside as well as within the bloc, ASEAN needs to carry out two tasks in parallel: on the one hand, continuing to effectively promote traditional drivers such as trade and investment through a network of intra-bloc agreements and free trade agreements with partners; on the other hand, proactively adapting to and leading new areas of cooperation such as digital economy, digital transformation, circular economy, and innovation.

These directions are also the development orientations that Vietnam is pursuing. Therefore, the task is to harmonize and closely link the country's development goals with ASEAN's common priorities, aiming for a space of open cooperation in both scale and potential.

Third , in terms of long-term vision, Vietnam has been playing an active role in shaping ASEAN’s strategic orientations. The ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) that we have successfully organized over the past two years is a typical contribution in this direction, creating an open and inclusive dialogue space to seek directions and solutions to many issues and trends of concern.

Therefore, AFF has great complementary value to the process of building and soon implementing ASEAN 2045 documents, contributing to connecting policy with practice, between policy makers with the business community and people.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in Bangkok, Thailand on July 29. (Photo: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

With its increasing position and power in the international arena, what role does Vietnam play in spreading ASEAN's voice and central role in global multilateral forums, spreading the success story of the Association , Mr. Deputy Minister ?

ASEAN’s centrality is not something that is inherently inherent, but is the result of persistent efforts, recognized by countries and the international community. That achievement has been cultivated over time and tempered through difficulties so that ASEAN can stand firm in a volatile strategic environment, affirm its leading role in the region and enhance its influence in global issues.

To continue to spread ASEAN's central role more strongly, we need to identify simultaneous implementation in all three aspects, specifically strengthening internal strength, promoting ASEAN's external relations and promoting ASEAN's contributions in global forums and issues.

First of all, it is necessary to strengthen internal strength on the basis of maintaining solidarity, consensus and enhancing ASEAN's strategic autonomy. Vietnam will continue to promote its pioneering role, persistently uphold ASEAN's principles and standards of conduct, uphold compliance with international law and promote ASEAN's common stance and voice on international and regional issues.

In relations with partners, it is necessary to promote the attractiveness and effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, etc. Taking on the role of coordinating relations between ASEAN and many partners, Vietnam has proactively oriented these processes in line with the common interests of the region, on the basis of promoting dialogue, cooperation and building trust. In the coming time, we need to study proposals to improve the methods of operation, ensure cohesion and complementarity between existing mechanisms, create a resonance effect and improve the effectiveness of regional cooperation.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations in his role as Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly, chaired the plenary session of the UN General Assembly, which adopted by consensus the Resolution on ASEAN-UN cooperation on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of ASEAN and the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive partnership between the two organizations, November 2022. (Photo: Bao Chi)

On the global level, it is important to strengthen ASEAN’s presence and common voice in the international arena. Vietnam’s successful organization of the first meeting in 2020 on ASEAN-UN cooperation in maintaining international peace and security, and promoting ASEAN’s common statements in many UN agendas are vivid evidence of ASEAN’s increasingly deep engagement in global processes.

Continuing these efforts, along with the important responsibilities that we will assume in the coming time such as APEC Chair 2027, ASEAN Chair 2029, Vietnam will continue to promote its role as a bridge, connecting ASEAN with multilateral institutions, contributing to affirming ASEAN's position as a partner for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ba-thap-ky-viet-nam-trong-asean-hai-trinh-vuon-ra-bien-lon-323639.html