​Reviewing outstanding milestones during the period of 27 years of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN, it shows an active, proactive and responsible Vietnam in the process of building an ASEAN Community, in which the people are the center.

Soldiers carring out the ceremony of raising the ASEAN flag. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

The date of July 28, 2022 marks the 27th Anniversary of Vietnam’s official accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since then, Vietnam has become one of the active, proactive and responsible members in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region, building ASEAN into a people - oriented, people - centered Community.

Since Vietnam’s official accession to ASEAN on July 28, 1995, its foreign policy in ASEAN has become an important part of Vietnam's foreign policy in the new period. clearly directed in the documents of the Party Congress.

The document of the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (in January of 2011) stated: "Vietnam is proactive, active and responsible with other countries to build a strong ASEAN Community, strengthens relations with partners, continues to play the important role in cooperation frameworks in the Asia - Pacific region," simultaneously defines the task of "striving together with ASEAN countries to build Southeast Asia into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development."

The 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (in January of 2016) defined the direction for cooperation in ASEAN as "proactive, active and responsible with ASEAN countries to build a strong community", "actively participate in and promote its role in multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN and the United Nations."

With this orientation, ASEAN’s membership becomes a focus of Vietnam's foreign policy, a strategic focus of Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy in ASEAN.

Directive No. 25-CT/TW, dated August 8, 2018 of the Secretariat on "Strengthening and raising the level of multilateral external relations to 2030" once again emphasized the need to "continue to promote and effectively exploit results from its membership of the ASEAN Economic Community", "promote Vietnam's position in building the ASEAN Political - Security Community 2025, strengthen ASEAN's central role in the region and enhance the position and presence of the Community in the international arena."

Thus, during the past 27 years and even during the previous time, Vietnam's policy towards ASEAN has reflected a fundamental development in diplomatic thought and has become an important part of the country's foreign policy.

Reviewing outstanding milestones during the period of 27 years of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN, it shows an active, proactive and responsible Vietnam in the process of building an ASEAN Community, in which the people are the center.

Vietnam twice took over the ASEAN Chairmanship (in 2010 and 2020); successfully organized the 6th, 17^th, 36^th, 37th ASEAN Summits (in 1998, 2010, 2020); successfully organized the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF on ASEAN) in 2018, the 41st ASEAN Inter - Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in 2020, the ASEAN High - Level Forum on Sub-regional Cooperation for inclusive growth and sustainable development in 2021.

Along with that, Vietnam also assumes the role of coordinator of ASEAN relations with the European Union (EU); and the rotating Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires since July 2022.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and Ms. Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, Honorary Chairwoman of the ASEAN Women's Community in Hanoi (AWCH), called on ASEAN to unite and join hands to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

Appreciating Vietnam's outstanding contributions to ASEAN over the past 27 years, Mr. Vu Ho, Acting Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, said that over the past 27 years, Vietnam has contributed a lot to ASEAN's development.

Vietnam was the first country to establish the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF for short) in 1994, followed by a series of ASEAN mechanisms with contributions from Vietnam.

For example, the mechanism of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus were established during Vietnam's ASEAN Chair in 2010 or mechanisms on prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases.

The renewal policies towards the future of ASEAN, such as discussions on ASEAN Vision after 2025, are also initiatives of Vietnam.

Another important contribution, according to Mr. Vu Ho, is the affirmation of Vietnam's position and policies towards the region and the world. Dialogue and cooperation, international law are the main tools in relations with surrounding countries. It is the harmony considered as a premise for exchange and cooperation.

They all clearly affirm that Vietnam is a very responsible partner to the community, to its relations, to the world, including Southeast Asia.

According to Mr. Vu Ho, with the theme of ASEAN 2022 is "ASEAN acts together to respond to challenges" for harmany, Vietnam has been making many contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the region as well as ensuring peace and stability in people’s lives in the ASEAN region.

In 2022 as well as the next period, Vietnam always affirms peace and stability as the goal, responsibility as the motto when joining ASEAN.

Vietnam also highly appreciate the sincere and frank dialogue on all issues based on the spirit of cooperation and respect for international law. These are also the principles of ASEAN.

Mr. Vu Ho gave an example, Vietnam has contributed to the development of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and is actively participating in the process of developing the Code of Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (COC). These activities all contribute to the process of building trust, managing conflicts and disputes.

Recently, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said: "Vietnam's accession to ASEAN marks an important milestone in the country's extensive regional and international integration. This process is conducted together with Vietnam's extensive integration in politics, economy, diplomacy and all other aspects with other countries and organizations in the world."

Since Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN, it has increasingly proved itself to be a very responsible and active member for ASEAN as well as the world community.

Vietnam and ASEAN countries have actively built the ASEAN community on all pillars from politics, economy, culture, society, and especially the priority for strengthening ASEAN connectivity.

And in that process, Vietnam and ASEAN countries have promoted relations with many partners around the world. That is reflected in the fact that many countries around the world continue to want to become partners of ASEAN.

In the context that ASEAN is facing traditional and non-traditional challenges, such as territorial disputes, natural disasters, pandemics, and transnational crimes, Vietnam with its central role in ASEAN, continues to promote the spirit of solidarity, dialogue and cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, lessen disagreements, ensure harmony among the interests of nations, and avoid conflicts and contradictions.