Establishing a new position

This event also includes dialogues between sports leaders from ASEAN countries and partners from Japan, China, and related organizations such as the International Football Federation (FIFA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), etc. This is a particularly important event, aiming to discuss policies and promote cooperation in sports development in the region, and also providing an opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its proactive role, responsibility, and influence within the ASEAN community.

As the host country, Vietnam proposed several important discussion topics, including: developing professional sports linked to sports science and economics , enhancing international competitiveness; promoting gender equality; establishing high-performance sports centers to create training environments, facilitate professional exchange, and elevate the level of athletes… These topics further demonstrate the solidarity of the entire ASEAN bloc, aiming towards the common goal of contributing to promoting cooperation, policy exchange, and action in the field of sports among ASEAN member states.

This conference is also an important opportunity for Vietnamese sports to affirm its role and responsibility in regional cooperation mechanisms; and at the same time, to promote the image of Vietnam and its people, a nation that loves sports and considers sports as a bridge of friendship and international cooperation. This is also a vibrant implementation of the Party and State's multilateral foreign policy in accordance with the spirit of Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo , Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat, and Decision No. 161/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister, affirming Vietnam's role as an active, responsible member of the ASEAN community.

Initiated in 2011 by ASEAN leaders, the AMMS and SOMS conferences have contributed to the development of Southeast Asian sports. From these conferences, countries agreed to focus on developing Olympic sports at the SEA Games; and expand cooperation with leading Asian sports nations such as Japan, South Korea, and China. As a result, regional sports have made significant progress in both achievements and the quality of organizing events like the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, demonstrating an increasingly strong position on the continental sports map.

In particular, the increasing number of Southeast Asian athletes winning medals at the Olympics and Asian Games reflects the effective cooperation and resource sharing in training, sports science, and athlete management – achievements initiated by the AMMS and SOMS conferences.

Within this overall picture, Vietnamese sports are emerging as a bright spot and have established a new position in the region. As the fastest-growing sports sector in Southeast Asia over the past two decades, Vietnam has successfully hosted the SEA Games twice (2003 and 2021) and consistently ranks among the region's leading nations. The strong breakthroughs in Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, and martial arts have transformed Vietnamese sports from a "follower" to one of the leading countries, a model for regional integration and achievement; helping Vietnamese sports affirm its role and international prestige; and contributing to promoting the image of the country, its people, and its sports to friends in the region.

With its established position, Vietnam's responsibility to the ASEAN community is even greater. The success of the AMMS-8 and SOMS-16 conferences is measured not only by the organization but also by Vietnam's ability to promote substantive cooperation commitments, creating new momentum for the development of regional sports. Alongside this, Vietnamese sports itself needs to continue investing in science and technology, infrastructure, sports economics, and school sports, creating a solid foundation to maintain its leading position and move closer to continental and world standards.

With a spirit of integration, responsibility, and aspiration for excellence, Vietnamese sports, together with ASEAN, are moving towards a dynamic, cohesive, and sustainable future, where sports are not only a competition for achievement but also a bridge to spread peace, friendship, and the strength of a community moving forward together.

YEN PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xac-lap-vi-the-moi-post817428.html