Vietnam was successful in accomplishing its role as ASEAN Chair 2020 despite facing unimaginable challenges brought about by the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Hiroyuki Morbei, director of the Vietnam Economic Research Institute (VERI), has said during a recent media interview.

Director of the Vietnam Economic Research
Institute Hiroyuki Moribe  (Photo: VNA)

The nation competently dealt with the impact of the pandemic and swiftly organised the ASEAN Summit and related meeting via teleconferences.

In the country’s role as ASEAN Chair, it took on the burden of responsibility for leading the bloc in outlining measures aimed at addressing an array of important issues, Moribe said. As a result, many regional countries have lauded the nation’s co-ordination capacity to plan the summit, which involved the participation of powerful Asian nations such as China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Moribe also applauded ASEAN 2020’s theme of “Cohesive & Responsive”, which can be viewed as suitable with both the current circumstances and the summit, which witnessed parties adopt the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Although the impact of COVID-19 has forced many nations to carry out a “country first” policy, Vietnam has maintained uninterrupted operations of production supply chains, whilst also signing a number of free trade agreements (FTAs).

With regard to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Moribe said that China, a member of the RCEP, will gain a bigger market share and have an increasing influence over ASEAN in the future. Indeed, it is of critical importance for ASEAN member states to maintain relations with the northern neighbour moving forward.

He also expressed his hope that the country and other ASEAN states work closely alongside Japan in an effort to create a FTA that brings additional benefits to ASEAN. In line with this, Moribe suggested that Hanoi, where the RCEP was signed, could be a good choice to locate the RCEP headquarters.