Hanoi (VNA) – An international seminar on theidentity and central role of the ASEAN Community took place in Hanoi on March19.
The event gathered over 100 representatives from the ForeignMinistry, embassies of ASEAN member states and dialogue partners in Vietnam, aswell as Vietnamese and international scholars.
Participants discussed opportunities and challenges to thebloc’ identity and central role in the current context, as well as the role ofdifferent social groups in building a people-centred ASEAN Community. They alsoshared experience and gave recommendations for Vietnam, as the country willbecome the rotating ASEAN Chair in 2020.
Assistant to the Vietnamese Minister of Foreign AffairsNguyen Van Thao said the five-decade development of the community based on itspast achievements and its importance to each member state and Southeast Asia aswell as the India-Asia-Pacific region in a broader sense have made its identityand central role, which determine the vitality and prospects of ASEAN in thecoming time.
Thao elaborated that the community’s identity aims atbuilding a people-centred ASEAN, connecting people from its member states.
He noted ASEAN’s central role has been applauded by itspartners and has contributed to sustaining peace and stability, protecting thebloc’s interests, as well as ensuring the member states’ voices to be heardregarding international issues.
Fostering the identity and central role is a key task thatrequires concerted efforts from all members, Thao said, adding that rotating ASEANchairs should lead the bloc to be linked in a common identity and beself-reliant and highly adaptive in a changing world.
Peter Girke, Country Representative of the German politicalfoundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Vietnam, said Vietnam, which isexcellent in community building, will benefit from the ASEAN Community whentaking over the chairmanship next year.
Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawaexpressed his confidence in Vietnam’s central role, vision, and leadership,which could push the community’s position to new heights.
Founded on August 8, 1967, the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) now comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
The ASEAN Community was established on December 31, 2015. The ASEAN Vision 2025was adopted the same year, focusing on building a people-centred community.-VNA
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat 2019 opened in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai on January 18 with a focus on various issues related to intra-bloc cooperation, the process of building the ASEAN Community towards sustainable growth, as well as the current regional and global situation.
The 11th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) took place at the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters in Jakarta on March 5 to review the implementation of the APSC Blueprint 2025.
A forum on child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 6 by the ASEAN Secretariat in combination with the UN Children's Fund, UN Population Fund , and the Plan International.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of the country’s permanent mission to ASEAN, attended the seventh ASEAN - Canada Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 15.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
At the seminar (Photo: VNA)
