Vietnam has done a good job in its role as the ASEAN Chair 2020 amidst COVID-19 challenges both regionally and globally, said diplomats ahead of the 37th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings due to start on November 12. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi congratulates Vietnam on its outstanding
performance during the ASEAN Chairmanship Year despite the COVID-19 challenge.

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi told the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in a recent interview that Vietnam has successfully performed its role, making substantial contributions to promoting closer regional cooperation to deal with COVID-19 and step up economic recovery.

“From the very beginning of its term, Vietnam took ASEAN seriously and considered the bloc as a focal point in its foreign policy,” said the diplomat.

“I am optimistic that during this ASEAN Week, leaders will reach consensus on key issues with many documents to be signed at the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.”

“Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, all ASEAN meetings have been held online since April this year under the chairmanship of Vietnam. ASEAN has maintained its growth and close cooperation within its bloc and with its partners. I would like to congratulate Vietnam on these important results.”

Meanwhile, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi singled out Vietnam for its outstanding performance during the ASEAN Chairmanship Year, saying the country has demonstrated strong leadership of ASEAN in spearheading a collective regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“ASEAN has been united and has quickly responded to the pandemic since February. Its strong responses have been largely attributed to Vietnam’s leadership, especially in promoting dialogue and cooperation among member states,” said the ASEAN Secretary General.

For her part, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed Vietnam has always displayed its leadership role very well, especially in 2020 when COVID-19 broke out. According to the female diplomat, the upcoming 37th ASEAN Summit is of paramount importance as regional leaders should seek to address the COVID-19 challenge and cushion the impact of the disease on regional economy and citizens’ life.  

Vietnam receives acclaim for its leadership role at September meeting
between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and
the United Nations (UN) in September 2020.

During the past year, the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN has regularly chaired meetings between ASEAN and its partner countries. At these meetings, partner countries expressed their support for Vietnam’s initiatives and role in the response to the pandemic.

At a September meeting between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the United Nations (UN), a UN representative voiced his support for initiatives put forward by ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular, especially in implementing an ASEAN comprehensive recovery framework in the post-COVID period.

Vietnam also received Switzerland’s acclaim for its good role in coordinating and maintaining intra-regional cooperation and with its external partners, at an October meeting of the ASEAN - Switzerland Joint Cooperation Committee.

At the 18th meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee in March 2020, Russia affirmed ASEAN is one of the top priorities in its foreign policy, and it pledged to support the bloc’s central role in maintaining regional peace and stability, actively participating in ASEAN-led regional mechanisms.

Russia welcomed and pledged to support Vietnam’s initiatives and priorities in its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. It appreciated Vietnam’s initiative to host a UN Security Council meeting on ASEAN-UN cooperation in maintaining international peace and security in January 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a great challenge for Vietnam in its ASEAN Chairmanship Year. However, the country has effectively brought the disease under control, becoming a model for many other countries, while leading ASEAN through the crisis in the spirit of cohesiveness and responsiveness.