Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and General Secretary of the ASEAN National Committee 2020 Nguyen Quoc Dung underscored Vietnam’s priorities during the ASEAN Chair Year 2020 at an international press conference in Hanoi on November 18.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and General Secretary of the ASEAN National Committee 2020 Nguyen Quoc Dung gives a speech international press conference 

During the press briefing, Dung said 2020 will be a significant year to ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular to review the mid-term implementation of an overall plan to build the ASEAN Community between 2015 and 2025, and mark the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership in the regional bloc.

Vietnam has chosen “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, given the complicated developments in the region and the world that pose many challenges to multilateralism and free trade as well as the growing non-traditional security threats, the official said, adding that the country will perform the role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2020-2021.

The Vietnamese diplomat stated Vietnam’s great determination to build a more connected and stronger ASEAN community based on the outcomes gained by the previous ASEAN Chairs, and accentuated the nation’s five priorities.

Firstly, Vietnam will promote ASEAN’s role and positive contributions to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region on the basis of reinforcing intra-bloc solidarity, unification and coordination to deal with regional and international matters.

Secondly, it will enhance regional connectivity and adaptation, optimise opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to spur sustainable and inclusive growth in economy, finance, and society, narrow development gaps, build high-quality human resources, and increase social services for vulnerable groups.

Thirdly, the country will raise public awareness about ASEAN’s identity by creating common values of ASEAN and widely popularsing them among people.

Fourthly, the nation will bolster partnerships for peace and sustainable development with all countries across the globe and promote ASEAN’s role in and contributions to the international community.

Fifthly, it will improve the adaptation and operational efficiency of ASEAN and its institutional reform.

Vietnam will chair, coordinate and organize roughly 300 conferences and diverse activities during the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, including important events such as a summit in April and November and the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in August.

Other meetings will focus on the regional grouping’s three pillars – politics and security; economy; and culture-society.