Vietnam fulfils role as Chair of ASEAN Foundation’s Board of Trustees
Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, attended the 48th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (AF BOT 48) in Jakarta on June 9 which praised Vietnam’s successful chairmanship of the foundation in 2021.
Delegates to 48th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representativeof Vietnam to ASEAN, attended the 48th meeting of the Board of Trustees of theASEAN Foundation (AF BOT 48) in Jakarta on June 9 which praised Vietnam’ssuccessful chairmanship of the foundation in 2021.
The meeting, the first in 2022, recognised and appreciatedthe foundation’s activities from November 2021 to April 2022, in the context ofthe COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cause many difficulties for its activitiesand programmes.
Specifically, the ASEAN Foundation successfully implementedand organised all programmes and initiatives in the four main fields ofeducation, arts and culture, communication, and Community building.
Delegates welcomed efforts of the foundation in organisingactivities to enhance public awareness of ASEAN and strengthen connectivity andcoordination with the ASEAN Secretariat and partners.
They also exchanged views on existing issues as well asdevelopment orientations of the foundation in second half of 2022, including aplan to recruit its executive director for the 2023-2026 term.
In the time ahead, the foundation will focus on strategicgoals of increasing the consciousness on the bloc, improving the organisationcapacity, and seeking more funding to serve the bloc’s priorities in the fieldsof science technology, innovation, and young workforce development./.
Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, on June 10 presided over the 46th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (AF BOT 46), in his capacity as chair of the board in 2021.
The ASEAN-China Young Leaders’ Summit 2021 has been held by the ASEAN Foundation, in collaboration with the Institute of Area Studies at Beijing University, with the support of the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF).
Teams from Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia won the 2021 ASEAN Data Science Explorers (DSE) Regional Finals 2021 that was co-hosted by the ASEAN Foundation and the multinational software group SAP from October 5-7.
Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, on November 18 chaired the 47th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (AF BOT 47) – the last in his capacity as chair of the board in 2021.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Delegates to 48th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (Photo: VNA) 
