ASEAN's 'attraction' lies not only in its potential but also in its mettle and identity.

Sức hút ASEAN không chỉ nằm ở tiềm năng mà còn ở bản lĩnh và bản sắc

ASEAN-GCC-China Summit within the framework of the 46th ASEAN Summit, May 27 in Malaysia. (Source: VGP)

The 47th ASEAN Summit and related conferences are attracting the attention of many ASEAN partners, with the participation of many senior leaders of partner countries. How does the Ambassador assess the “attraction” of ASEAN that has been shaped, consolidated and promoted over the past time?

In the context of the region and the world witnessing many profound changes, from strategic competition between major powers, non-traditional security challenges, to the need for cooperation in recovery and sustainable development, partners increasingly want to be more closely associated with ASEAN. This reflects the fact that, in the current complex geopolitical picture, ASEAN still maintains its role as a fulcrum of dialogue, cooperation and stability.

Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN. (Source: Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN)

ASEAN’s “attraction” comes from many factors. First of all, ASEAN is one of the most dynamically developing regions in the world, with a young population, a large market and the potential for sustainable economic growth.

But more importantly, ASEAN has become a driving force for dialogue and cooperation, making an important contribution to maintaining an environment of peace , stability and prosperous development cooperation in the region, something that many other places are still striving to find.

ASEAN also stands out in its ability to gather and harmonize the interests of its partners, creating a space for dialogue based on trust and respect for international law, while flexibly adapting to changes in the regional and international environment, promptly grasping and absorbing new trends.

It is the steadfastness with core values combined with the ability to adapt quickly that has helped ASEAN affirm its central role in the evolving regional structure, making partners consider ASEAN not only an economic partner, but also a friend, a reliable coordinator, and an effective cooperative partner in responding to challenges affecting regional peace and stability.

The network of intra-ASEAN economic integration agreements and FTAs between ASEAN and its partners, such as the RCEP Agreement, which accounts for 30% of the global population and 30% of GDP, is another important attraction of ASEAN, linking the needs and interests of partners in an expanding economic space in the region with the world's leading growth rate.

It can be said that the "attraction" of ASEAN lies not only in its potential, but also in its mettle and identity, a cohesive ASEAN, proactively adapting and always striving to contribute to peace, cooperation, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

That “attraction” further demonstrates ASEAN’s central role. According to the Ambassador, how should ASEAN’s central role be promoted in the current intra-bloc, regional and international context, contributing to the creation of common peace and stability?

ASEAN’s centrality is a result of ASEAN solidarity, consensus and skillful handling of relations with partners. Over the past half century, ASEAN has demonstrated that a region can maintain peace and stability not by force, but by dialogue, trust and mutual respect. These values have helped ASEAN become a factor that unites, harmonizes interests and promotes cooperation between countries in and outside the region.

Nowadays, when the regional and international environment is changing deeply, promoting the central role is of increasing strategic significance. To do that, ASEAN needs to first maintain solidarity and unity within the bloc, which is the foundation for the prestige and common voice of the Association.

The 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings are taking place in Malaysia. (Source: BERNAMA)

At the same time, ASEAN must enhance its adaptive capacity, be both firm in principles and flexible in methods, consolidate and improve the effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms, so that it can cooperate effectively in responding to challenges from strategic competition, security hotspots, non-traditional security issues such as natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, transnational crimes, etc.

In addition, ASEAN needs to continue to be an open and inclusive dialogue space where partners can exchange and cooperate on the basis of respect for international law, shared values and recognized standards, and work towards common interests. By maintaining a common stance and a sense of responsibility, ASEAN will not only maintain its central role, but also continue to make substantial contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.

The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 reflects ASEAN’s commitment to sustainable, long-term, inclusive and continued resilience in cooperation with external partners. To ensure this “sustainability, long-term, inclusiveness and continuity”, what aspects should ASEAN promote, especially in the current context, according to the Ambassador?

The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 reflects the common aspiration of member states for a strong, resilient and inclusive Community – where ASEAN continues to be the center of regional cohesion and a reliable partner to international friends. In the context of a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, this vision is even more meaningful, as it reflects ASEAN’s determination not only to recover from the crisis, but also to develop sustainably and long-term, leaving no one behind.

To realize that vision, ASEAN needs to continue to put people at the center of the development process, strengthen internal resilience, promote economic integration and green and digital transformation to create new momentum for growth. At the same time, ASEAN must maintain solidarity, strengthen its common voice and institutional capacity, because only with a solid internal foundation can the Association effectively respond to external challenges.

In its relations with partners, ASEAN needs to act as a bridge, harmonizing the interests of partners, and be a capable entity, knowing how to orient cooperation in a way that is consistent with the common interests and principles of the region. That means ASEAN needs to maintain an independent, objective and balanced stance, while continuing to affirm its central role in an open, transparent and rules-based regional structure.

Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn at the photo exhibition "25 years of integration" on August 11. (Source: VNA)

How can Vietnam contribute to forming a ready mindset of ASEAN in realizing development roadmaps on the new journey?

Vietnam always considers ASEAN as one of the important pillars of its foreign policy, a direct and important strategic environment to ensure security and development interests and enhance the country's position. On the way towards the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, Vietnam is ready to work with member countries to build a proactive, confident and adaptive ASEAN, to both respond well to fluctuations and rise strongly in the new era.

First of all, Vietnam will continue to play an active role in strengthening solidarity and unity within the bloc, promoting the role of consensus building within ASEAN. With its extensive friendship and cooperation with all member countries, Vietnam always strives to act as a bridge, promote dialogue and seek common ground, especially on issues with diverse viewpoints. By proactively proposing a conciliatory and constructive approach, Vietnam has repeatedly contributed to narrowing differences, creating a common consensus, thereby strengthening solidarity within the bloc and enhancing ASEAN's position in dealing with regional and global challenges.

Vietnam also strives to make substantial contributions to essential areas of cooperation, especially in areas where we have interests, strengths, and needs, from digital economic development, green transformation, supply chain connectivity to cooperation in responding to climate change and non-traditional security challenges, infrastructure connectivity, people-to-people exchange, etc. Vietnam wishes to share experiences and jointly build practical initiatives to help the ASEAN Community develop sustainably, inclusively, and with people at the center.

At the same time, as a reliable partner and active bridge, Vietnam will continue to contribute to deepening the friendly relations, reliable and effective cooperation between ASEAN and its partners. In that spirit, Vietnam will continue to actively carry out the rotating roles it undertakes in the coming time, including the role of coordinator of ASEAN-UK and ASEAN-New Zealand relations (2024-2027), continuing to make practical contributions to maintaining the central role and enhancing ASEAN's prestige in the international arena.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/suc-hut-asean-khong-chi-nam-o-tiem-nang-ma-con-o-ban-linh-va-ban-sac-331919.html