This assessment came from Professor Ruhanas Harun of the Department of International Relations, National Defence University of Malaysia, in a recent media interview in Kuala Lumpur reflecting on Vietnam’s prominent contributions to ASEAN over the past 30 years. According to her, Vietnam’s entry into ASEAN also marked a major step toward the bloc’s expansion serving as a true catalyst for that process.

Professor Ruhanas noted that Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN paved the way for other countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar to join the bloc, marking one of Vietnam’s most notable contributions.
She also highlighted Vietnam’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 1998, just three years after becoming a member, as a strong demonstration of the country’s leadership. It was a major event that underscored Vietnam’s considerable contribution to ASEAN, particularly through the adoption of the 1998 Hanoi Plan of Action.

Vietnam has since actively participated in all meetings and summits, helping to strengthen ASEAN’s institutional framework. Professor Ruhanas emphasized that these were tangible, direct contributions alongside indirect ones such as strengthening friendship among member states. She affirmed that Vietnam’s contributions are undeniable and deeply appreciated.

Regarding the opportunities ASEAN membership has brought to Vietnam, Professor Ruhanas underlined the importance of examining the bloc’s three community pillars. Among them, she said, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is likely the most difficult to realize in the short term, given the varying levels of economic development and growth among ASEAN member states.

Professor Ruhanas pointed out that before Vietnam joined ASEAN, Malaysia primarily imported rice from Thailand. Today, however, Vietnam has become one of the world’s top rice exporters, second only to Thailand. In addition to rice, Vietnam also exports coffee and a wide range of other agricultural products. Many Malaysian traders now travel to Ho Chi Minh City to source textile and garment goods, thus opening up major opportunities for economic interaction.

Over its 30 years as an ASEAN member, Vietnam has gained plenty of opportunities for economic development. To further advance its economy and deepen integration within ASEAN, Professor Ruhanas accentuated the need to consider several factors. First is the disparity in economic development levels among member states, and the need for joint effort to reach a more unified level across the bloc. Second is the need to assess external factors that may hinder economic progress or integration such as US tariff policies.

According to Professor Ruhanas, ASEAN can enable other member states to learn from Vietnam’s economic development experience.
Vietnam has transitioned from a centrally planned socialist economy to a socialist-oriented market economy.

During that process, while gradually integrating into the global market economy, the country has remained cautious not to bow to external pressures or sacrifice its development priorities. Instead, it has pursued an independent policy framework aimed at ensuring a certain level of social welfare for its people.
One example is Vietnam’s success in maintaining a sustainable rice cultivation policy alongside urban development.

Three decades in ASEAN highlight Vietnam’s four key contributions

VOV.VN - Vietnam has made at least four important contributions to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since becoming a member of the regional bloc in July 1995.