Vietnam proactive in making responsible contributions to ASEAN’s common affairs

Along with attending the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits, the Vietnamese Government chief will also partake in other Related Summits with Leaders of Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the United States, Australia, and Russia. This is in addition to the ASEAN 3 Summit and the East Asia Summit, both of which will be held via video conferences.

This marks a string of high-level and important ASEAN events this year, serving as the largest official multilateral external activity and will be attended by the Prime Minister following the nation having a new leadership following the 13th National Party Congress.

As planned, 10 documents are set to be published at the summits, while 25 others are expected to be adopted, with 66 being recorded, including statements, strategies, co-operation frameworks, action plans, reports, and visions covering all three major co-operation pillars of the regional bloc.

With regard to co-operation in response to COVID-19, it is anticipated that this series of meetings will see the bloc agree and share a score of disease control measures. This will be done with a view to improve the public health capacity, manage health disasters, promote full and timely access to vaccines, and accelerate the widespread vaccination process to achieve herd immunity.

Furthermore, ASEAN aims to form a supply chain in order to ensure self-sufficient vaccinations for the region. This comes as Thailand, Singapore, and the nation are the only three ASEAN member states that are autonomously researching and developing vaccines.

The ASEAN Summit, which will run with the theme of "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper", is expected to discuss a number of agendas, such as further strengthening the resilience of the ASEAN Community towards regional recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, focus will be on intensifying the preparedness of ASEAN in dealing with common challenges, seizing new opportunities in pursuit of shared prosperity, and maintaining co-operation towards achieving the region's long-term goals.

The 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and summits with partners are therefore viewed as a prime opportunity for the country to continue affirming its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralisation, comprehensive, and extensive international integration.

Promoting the positive results of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, the nation continues to make responsible contributions to the common work of ASEAN, and co-ordinating with Brunei, Chair of ASEAN 2021, in order to promote Vietnamese priorities set for 2020 and those for 2021. Indeed, a special focus will be given to the COVID-19 response, assessment of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, building a vision of the ASEAN Community after 2025, and enhancing the role of ASEAN in regional co-operation.

Vietnamese participation in these ASEAN Summits also clearly displays the nation’s desire to unite with the bloc to overcome difficulties, maintain solidarity, the community building process, and promoting regional linkages.

This is in addition to effectively responding to emerging challenges and strengthening the central role, position, and international voice of ASEAN.