ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi has hailed the nation’s leadership and persistence in leading the bloc in developing the ASEAN Community, especially in terms of promoting joint efforts to cope with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Upon addressing the year’s first meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) held online on January 15, the ASEAN leader explained that 2020 was a year of great difficulties and challenges. These were largely brought about by the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with the special position of the CPR in ASEAN activities in Jakarta highlighted.

Through the leadership of the Vietnam mission to ASEAN, the CPR was able to devise effective efforts in co-ordination with other ASEAN mechanisms and the ASEAN Secretariat to successfully fulfill all tasks in 2020. These efforts helped to contribute to strengthening inter-sectorial and inter-pillar co-operation and co-ordination to build the ASEAN Community, thereby expanding the bloc’s collaboration alongside partners whilst simultaneously improving the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat, he said.

In the year ahead, when the COVID-19 pandemic is set to see various complicated developments, the ASEAN Secretary-General believes that Brunei choosing the theme of “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper” for its ASEAN Chairmanship Year represents a suitable choice.

Along with promoting the development of the ASEAN Community, one of the major tasks of Brunei in 2021 is reconstructing the region through the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), in addition to utilising initiatives approved by ASEAN leaders in 2020, he added.

Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of the Vietnam permanent mission to ASEAN, thanked representatives of countries to the bloc for their support and effective collaboration in 2020 during Vietnam’s period serving as ASEAN Chair.

The Vietnamese diplomat therefore expressed his confidence that Brunei, as the Chair of ASEAN in 2021, will successfully complete its tasks over the course of the year.

Furthermore, the country will continue to work closely alongside the Brunei mission and the CPR as a whole in order to carry out priorities and initiatives for this year as a means of supporting Brunei during their ASEAN Chairmanship Year, Ambassador Binh said.