Canadian expert highlights Vietnam's active role in creating motivation for ASEAN
VOV.VN - Elizabeth McIninch, director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council and a media consultant with deep expertise in Southeast Asia, has affirmed that the nation has become a mediator between member states of ASEAN and plays a leading role in the common home of 650 million people.
Amid the current context of economies around the world facing plenty of difficulties following the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s active membership is creating an impressive impetus for ASEAN.
Discussing with the media on the occasion ofn marking 28 years since the nation joined ASEAN, McIninch mentioned the Vietnamese motto of being a positive, proactive, and responsible member in ASEAN, saying that these important factors demonstrate the leading role and willingness to solve difficulties facing member states.
It is these values and principles that enable the bloc as a whole to move forward and the association to face tough challenges, she stated, adding that all of these principles have contributed to making Southeast Asia a region of peace, security, and stability, as well as maintaining the rule of law in the minds of all members.
According to her, along with many other countries throughout the region, Vietnam is in the process of promoting the negotiation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). Maintaining peace and stability will therefore be a good choice for both Vietnam and ASEAN members as the association is on track to become the world's fifth largest trading bloc.
This means that countries have been following concepts such as coherence, initiative, positivity, and responsibility, she went on to say.
The director emphasised that the country has become a leader in renewable energy development and has been pushing to achieve UN climate change goals for many years.
McIninch went on to express her impression that the country is forecast to achieve GDP growth of 6.2% this year, despite having just endured the COVID-19 pandemic like other countries.
Experts are saying that this growth rate can continue to increase to reach 7% to 8% in 2030, she said, while emphasising that this represents a highly impressive economic recovery.
McIninch also assessed that the country is politically stable with very optimistic people, a good standard of education, and a very young average age at around 30 years old.
Therefore, this is the second largest labour market throughout ASEAN, with the total current labour force of the entire block being at about 100 million people.