Vietnam expected to further elevate role and position in ASEAN

Following is the full text of the interview.

VOV: What contributions has Vietnam made to ASEAN since it joined the grouping on July 28, 1995?

Veeramalla Anjaiah: Vietnam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 28, 1995. Over the past 28 years, it has been an ‘active and responsible’ member, making practical contributions to a united, peaceful, stable, and developed ASEAN that possesses a steady voice in the region.

Vietnam lobbied ASEAN member states to admit both Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, serving as a bridge between mainland states and island nations to later form a group of 10 member states.

Vietnam has therefore played a key role in defining development goals and directions, along with formulating major decisions within ASEAN. Among them are the ASEAN Vision 2020, the Hanoi Plan of Action, the Vientiane Plan of Action, the 2003 Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, the 2007 ASEAN Charter, the Blueprints for the ASEAN Community, and the ASEAN Integration Initiative (IAI).

Vietnam’s security was integrated with the whole of Southeast Asia. Vietnam also led efforts within ASEAN to ensure regional security. It signed the Treaty on the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995 and was a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It has also helped ASEAN promote cooperation with non-regional players, including China, Russia, India and the European Union EU).

All these years, Vietnam is effectively working with ASEAN to respond to threats to regional peace, security, and stability, while promoting dialogue and co-operation.

The country has played a key role in the 2019 ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (known as East Sea in Vietnam) with China. It is currently working on negotiations with China as it seeks to build a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

The ASEAN membership has also helped raise Vietnam’s magnitude of multilateral diplomacy and enhance its international position on the global stage. It has also cooperated closely with the international community in dealing with global challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam has united with ASEAN at every opportunity, contributing to the grouping’s success. It has been working for greater cooperation for the sake of peace, development and prosperity of the whole region.

VOV: How do you evaluate the role and position of Vietnam today in ASEAN?

Veeramalla Anjaiah: Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has been playing a constructive role in strengthening ASEAN and its unity. With its 98.89 million population, Vietnam is the third most populous country in ASEAN after Indonesia and the Philippines.

With its present gross domestic product of US$429.76 billion, Vietnam has the fourth-largest economy in ASEAN after Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. It was one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, with its GDP expanding 8.0% in 2022. Its manufacturing and economy are presently booming in ASEAN. Last year, its trade reached US$730.2 billion with exports alone bringing in US$$371.3 billion.

Vietnam is an important country in ASEAN. It has one of the lowest debt to GDP ratio. In 2022, Vietnam’s debt to GDP ratio was just 37.1%.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Vietnam has forex reserves of US$88.3 billion as of January 2023. Securities firm VNDirect has forecast the reserves of Vietnam to increase to US$102 billion by the end of this year.

Vietnam hosted ASEAN chairmanship in 1998, 2010 and 2020 to boost the grouping’s unity and centrality. It also successfully assumed the role of ASEAN coordinator with China from 2009 to 2012, the EU from 2012 to 2015, India from 2015 to 2018, and Japan from 2015 to 2018.

It hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2006 and 2017 to promote regional economic cooperation among ASEAN countries with Asia-Pacific countries.

ASEAN is one of the important foundations for Vietnam to gradually integrate into the world and create a favourable international environment to boost national construction and defence.

All these years, Vietnam has joined ASEAN members in transforming the region into a friendly, cooperative, and war-free part of the world. Along with this, it has established strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with neighbouring countries, major countries, and many other important partners in order to garner wider international support for its security and development interests.

VOV:  What can Vietnam and Indonesia do to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN community?

Veeramalla Anjaiah: Indonesia, the incumbent chairman of ASEAN, is an important country with the biggest population (277.64 million) and largest economy with a GDP of US$1.35 trillion in ASEAN. It has selected the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” for its 2023 ASEAN chairmanship. Collaboration and cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia will make a major contribution to ASEAN, which is committed to fostering its relevance in the midst of global challenges.

The two countries make up 60% of ASEAN’s population and their combined economic strength reaches 45% of the total ASEAN economy. Both can play an important role in ASEAN matters.

Vietnam and Indonesia established their diplomatic ties on Dec.30, 1955. Since then both remained as good old friends. In 2013, both elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership. Two-way trade between the two countries hit US$14.17 billion last year close to the US$15 billion target set for 2028.

In May 2023, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh came to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit and met with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Both leaders commended strong strides in the bilateral ties in all spheres, agreeing to further bring into play their potential to create a momentum for the strategic partnership to reach new heights. They both agreed that the bilateral strategic ties must contribute to regional peace, stability and development.

ASEAN is an inseparable part of Vietnam’s external policy. Since 1995, Vietnam has always been an active member, making many important contributions to ASEAN. Vietnam always raises high the spirit of solidarity and consensus in all ASEAN activities.

Vietnam attends the 42nd ASEAN Summit with a message of strengthening unity and self-reliance, improving ASEAN's ability to respond and adapt to changes, and further promoting its role, voice, and responsibility in global issues.

Both Vietnam and Indonesia will turn ASEAN into a growth engine with a leading role in regional cooperation and connectivity, contributing to the shared goal of peace, stability and prosperity.