The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland has recently chaired the fourth meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Bern (ACB) in 2020.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland has recently chaired the fourth meeting
of the ASEAN Committee in Bern (ACB) in 2020. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the meeting, held virtually, Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Le Linh Lan briefed the committee on the major outcomes during the ASEAN Year 2020 when Vietnam holds the Chairmanship.

She highlighted initiatives and major achievements in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, building the ASEAN Community, maintaining regional peace and stability, promoting connectivity, and stepping up socio-economic cooperation and partnership.  

Despite challenges caused by the pandemic, Vietnam has successfully performed its ASEAN Chairmanship, with hallmarks in cooperation, the ambassador said.

The meeting reviewed milestones made by the ten-member group in enhancing economic connectivity, notably the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

Other participating ambassadors expressed their impression at the great efforts made by Vietnam to successfully organise many activities within the ASEAN Year 2020, significantly contributing to strengthening intra-bloc solidarity in order to effectively cope with COVID-19, ease its socio-economic impacts, and raise the bloc’s position and centrality in the regional multilateral cooperation structure.

These achievements have helped ASEAN beef up cooperation, towards regional economic recovery, they said. They agreed with Vietnam’s initiative to organise more meetings, online or in-person when possible.

Vietnam is scheduled to handover the ACB Chairmanship to the Philippines in January 2021.