28 years of joining ASEAN - Vietnam's contributions from international perspective

Amid global upheavals, ASEAN has emerged as a successful regional organisation. In the development process of ASEAN over the past 56 years, it has been indispensable for its contribution to Vietnam, who in turn plays an active, proactive, and responsible member and is duly recognized and appreciated by countries inside and outside the region.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn highlighted Vietnamese contributions over the past 28 years, adding that since being an official member of the bloc, the country has always been an active member and has made many important contributions to the regional grouping.

Whether playing the role of ASEAN chair, performing tasks in the ASEAN Secretariat, or co-ordinating with dialogue partners, Vietnam has always been an active member and at international forums which always being keen to promote the interests of member states.

Economically, as one of the fastest growing economies throughout the region, the country is making important contributions to the intra-regional economy, with last year's trade turnover between the nation and ASEAN soaring by more than US$80 billion.

Furthermore, the country as a whole is also considered to have made great strides with fast and strong growth coming thanks to attracting a lot of investment and rapidly increasing social development indicators.

Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2023 (ASEAN-BAC 2023), said that the strong Vietnamese economic growth has made significant contributions to the realisation of ASEAN's economic goals.

According to him, through the recent high growth rate, the country plays an important role in spurring regional economic growth.

The Vietnamese population is quite large, with a growing middle class, a factor helping to boost consumption and attract further foreign investment, he said, adding that the country is also progressing in the field of science and technology.

It is therefore clear that Vietnam is an important partner of ASEAN and each country is contributing in different ways to regional development, the KADIN chairman went on to say.

Over the past 28 years, the nation has worked alongside other members to build the bloc into a friendly, co-operative, and peaceful region, whilst assisting in handling differences arising between member states and promoting their stance and common voice in regional affairs.

The country has also contributed to expanding relations, boosting ties between ASEAN and its partners, enhancing the group’s international role, with a specific focus on its central and decisive role at regional forums.

Furthermore, Vietnam has also established a strategic comprehensive partnership with neighbouring countries, major countries, and many other important partners, in order to enlist broad international support for ASEAN's development and security interests.

Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), assessed that Vietnam is co-operating effectively with member countries in response to threats to regional peace, security, and stability, while promoting dialogue and co-operation.

The country played an important role in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) in 2019 and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea back in 2002.

Currently, the nation and ASEAN member states are negotiating with China in order to develop a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

The country stands in solidarity with ASEAN at every opportunity, contributing to the bloc's success, and is making great efforts to boost ties for the sake of peace, development, and the prosperity of the region as a whole, he added.

In the context ASEAN facing great challenges both inside and outside the region,  Vietnam's role and position is increasingly being valued and appreciated.

Many countries expect that the country play a greater role in ASEAN moving forward, thereby becoming a bridge between ASEAN and dialogue partner countries.

Ambassador Igor Driesmans, head of the EU Delegation to ASEAN, said that Vietnam is a country with which the EU has close relations in the region.

The EU recently penned a free trade agreement with Vietnam and the two sides have agreements based on political and defence collaboration, both of which serve as very solid foundations and institutions for the bilateral relationship to grow.

For the EUs, Vietnam represents not only an important bilateral partner but also an important member of ASEAN.

It can be said that the nation’s outstanding contributions to the regional bloc along with the recorded achievements serve as the driving force for Vietnam to confidently carry out its foreign policy towards an increasingly important role in ASEAN in the coming period.