ASEAN has become one of the most important regional organizations in the world.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir said that the stronger ASEAN becomes, the stronger the foundation of the Association will be.

Ngoại trưởng Malaysia tin tưởng ASEAN sẽ tăng trưởng mạnh hơn bất chấp nhiều thách thức

Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir speaks at the event commemorating the 56th founding anniversary of ASEAN. (Source: VNA)

On August 8, Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir expressed his belief that ASEAN members will thrive as the bloc's position in the region becomes more important despite current global geopolitical challenges.

Speaking at the 56th anniversary of ASEAN (August 8, 1967 - August 8, 2023) held at the Gombak Cultural Centre of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Foreign Minister Zambry expressed hope that all ASEAN members will grow stronger to strengthen the foundation of the bloc.

He emphasized that, up to now, in the spirit of ASEAN Day on August 8, ASEAN remains intact as one of the most important regional associations in the world today.

However, according to him, ASEAN, although a dynamic region, cannot avoid problems arising. However, the most important thing is that all members of the bloc remain steadfast in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

In his speech, Foreign Minister Zambry also mentioned green growth, which is defined as a strategy to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address climate change and other environmental challenges to support global peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development, especially in terms of the circular economy.

In this context, ASEAN should ensure that growth targets revolve around the principles of sustainability, inclusiveness and shared prosperity, Mr. Zambry affirmed.

According to the head of Malaysia's foreign ministry, ASEAN's growth is not only a story of economic success but also a story of cultural preservation, environmental protection and social justice.

Also attending the ceremony to celebrate the 56th anniversary of ASEAN were former ASEAN Secretary General Dato Ajit Singh; diplomatic missions of ASEAN member countries; representatives and partners of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, Counsellor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh attended the event. The ceremony, themed “Promoting sustainable regional development”, was co-organized by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Malaysian Centre for Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs (Sejahtera) and IIUM University.

At this event, delegates also enjoyed the host country’s unique cultural and martial arts performances. At the end of the ceremony, Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry and representatives of the diplomatic missions of ASEAN member countries planted a commemorative tree in the Gombak Cultural Center.

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