Ceremony marking Vietnam’s 30 years of ASEAN membership takes place in Indonesia

Overview of the ceremony.

In his policy speech, the Vietnamese Party chief highlighted the ASEAN’s achievements over the past six decades and its important contributions to and central role in maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

He also pointed out new challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN in the context of the global complexion reshaping towards multipolarity and multi-center; the boom of science and technology leading to fundamental changes in socio-economic life; and the increase of non-traditional security threats such as climate change and cyber security.

To outlined a number of key strategic directions to further strengthen ASEAN and reinforce its centrality in the regional architecture.

Building on the legacy and continuation of achievements over the last 60 years, ASEAN needs innovative thinking and sharp strategy to create breakthroughs in regional connectivity and cooperation, the Party leader suggested.

General Secretary To Lam delivers a speech at the ceremony.

He underscored the importance of continued efforts to consolidate intra-bloc solidarity and strategic autonomy and enhance economic resilience through adopting creative development solutions and improving the effectiveness of building standards of conduct as well as the performance of the ASEAN Secretariat and its affiliated bodies.

General Secretary To Lam reassured that ASEAN remains a key pillar in Viet Nam’s foreign policy and an integral part of its development and integration strategy.

With ASEAN as the starting point, Viet Nam has integrated broadly and deeply into the global community and set up diplomatic relations with 194 countries worldwide, including comprehensive, strategic, or comprehensive strategic partnerships with 35 nations, including all ASEAN members and key partners, To emphasized.

Viet Nam is now a member of more than 70 regional and international forums and organizations, and the country has joined a network of free trade agreements (FTAs) involving more than 60 countries and economies across the world, positioning it among the world’s 40 largest economies and the top 20 in terms of foreign investment attraction and trade scale.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn speaks at the ceremony.

Regarding Vietnam’s foreign policy and guidelines in the new era, the Party chief affirmed that Vietnam is ready to make more positive and proactive contributions to the world politics, the global economy and the human civilization. In particular, defining ASEAN as a multilateral cooperation mechanism with direct and leading importance, Vietnam will promote its sense of responsibility, actively contribute to the common affairs of the association with creative mindset, innovative approaches, flexible effective implementation, and drastic actions, he said.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Ambassadors and Heads of Delegations of several ASEAN member countries and partners and a representative of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) highly appreciated Viet Nam’s proactive and positive role and important contributions to the process of building the ASEAN Community over the past three decades.

The ambassadors expressed appreciation for General Secretary To Lam’s policy speech, recognizing his insightful perspectives and Vietnam’s vision for ASEAN.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan (top row, far left) and Vietnamese high-ranking delegation attend the ceremony.

The ASEAN Secretary-General and diplomats acknowledged Vietnam’s significant contributions to the ASEAN Community-building process, particularly during its three chairmanship tenures.

They also praised Vietnam’s efforts in fostering economic and trade cooperation within ASEAN and beyond, advancing innovative initiatives, addressing global challenges, and playing an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Representatives expressed confidence that, under the leadership of General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will continue to grow and flourish and serve as a key driving force in advancing ASEAN’s development in the new era.

Following the ceremony, Vietnamese artists staged a special art performance to commemorate the milestone anniversary.