A series of related meetings have been taking place in Hanoi this week as part of the 16th ASEAN Summit (ASEAN 16) hosted by Vietnam in its role as the ASEAN Chair. Vietnam is keen to ensure the success of the ASEAN meetings and act effectively as the ASEAN Chair, showing its rising status in the region and international arena.
Vietnam takes on many responsibilities in 2010, which is a pivotal year for ASEAN and marks a five-year process towards creating an ASEAN community by 2015 and the one year that the ASEAN Charter has been in effect.
Vietnam has made a number of proposals for ASEAN’s cooperation and operations in 2010 with top priority being given to reinforcing unity and cooperation, enhancing regional links to realise the target of building the ASEAN community, bringing the ASEAN Charter to life and expanding comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.
The theme “Towards an ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action” that Vietnam has chosen for its Year as ASEAN Chair demonstrates the country’s determination to build a strong and united ASEAN community.
Vietnam has linked up with other ASEAN member countries to reach its set targets with a focus on building the three main pillar communities and implementing the second phase of the plan to narrow the development gap within ASEAN to stick to the timetable for creating the ASEAN community by 2015.
Vietnam is strongly confident of its role as ASEAN Chair in 2010 after playing an active part in the regional bloc in 2009- the year Vietnam took over the ASEAN Chair. The country has spared no effort to promote cooperation in every field between ASEAN and non-bloc partners and performed well its role as Vice Chair of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It was also chair of the working party on the ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan for Narrowing the Development Gap while helping to bring the ASEAN-Canada dialogue to success.
Last year, Vietnam also actively participated in the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the roadmap for creating an ASEAN community which laid the foundation for Vietnam taking over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2010 and raising its voice and status at regional and international forums.
ASEAN 16 opens in Hanoi on April 8 along with other related meetings. With a positive and responsible attitude, several sub-committees under the National Committee for ASEAN 2010 have already finalised all the logistical preparations for the event, including the media, security and medical care to make ASEAN 16 a great success.
ASEAN 16 offers an excellent chance for Vietnam to promote its image as a dynamic country with an external policy of independence, friendship and regional and international integration.
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