ASEAN - confidently moving forward with internal strength
In several occasions sharing with the press, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn has affirmed ASEAN’s enduring vitality and its strong impetus under all circumstances. Particularly, Vietnam has made significant contributions to shaping the image of ASEAN as it is today.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn during his working visit and participation in the ASEAN Future Forum in Vietnam, April 2024. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The internal unity and concensus
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that the most notable achievement of ASEAN after nearly six decades is maintaining peace and security, as well as expanding to 10 member countries, and soon 11 with the inclusion of Timor-Leste, thereby bringing together the entire Southeast Asian region into one community.
According to the ASEAN Secretary-General, originally established during the peak of the Cold War, ASEAN now plays a strong role both regionally and globally, holding a central position in regional structures and also acquiring legal personality with the adoption of the ASEAN Charter in 2008.
“The fact that all 10 member countries now have ambassadors- permanent representatives to ASEAN, alongside ambassadors from dialogue partner countries and other non-resident ambassadors - shows that ASEAN is developing robustly in terms of diplomatic relations. In the Community, ASEAN is witnessing increased connectivity and people-to-people exchanges; ASEAN citizens can now travel freely within the region without needing a visa”, the ASEAN Secretary-General emphasized.
It is clear that ASEAN’s “ship” is confidently moving forward with internal strength. However, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn believes that ASEAN is increasingly playing a crucial role in global processes and, therefore, ASEAN needs to look both inwardly and outwardly. Now more than ever, ASEAN must maintain its central role, strengthen partnerships and enhance mechanisms led by ASEAN.
ASEAN-led mechanisms include the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN+3, ASEAN+1, the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+), among others. The ASEAN Secretary-General believes that it is important for partners to participate in and support the core values of ASEAN.
In the context of complex and unpredictable regional and international situations, to maintain its central role, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn states that ASEAN must ensure internal unity and uphold core principles for ASEAN to be truly strong from within. The essential values and principles emphasized by the ASEAN Secretary-General include consensus in decision-making. Additionally, principles of solidarity and unity are crucial. ASEAN also needs to uphold transparency, openness and inclusiveness. Transparency, openness, and inclusiveness will build trust, which ASEAN needs to consolidate greatly in the region.
“We cannot allow a lack of trust to occur. Therefore, ASEAN must continuously cooperate with all partners to maintain and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. At the same time, we must ensure that Southeast Asia remains completely free of nuclear and weapons of mass destruction”, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized.
The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings recently held in Laos occurred amidst a backdrop of complex global and regional developments. However, according to the ASEAN Secretary-General, ASEAN members have reached consensus on many issues, demonstrating solidarity and trust as prerequisites for ASEAN’s success; fostering relationships between ASEAN and its partners, expanding cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green transition and enhancing regional connectivity in infrastructure, institutions, people…
Countries spent significant time discussing and sharing views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the South China Sea, Myanmar, the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During the meetings, many documents and initiatives were promoted, such as the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers’ Statement, the ASEAN-India Digital Future Fund, the Green Initiative and the ASEAN-EU Sustainable Connectivity Package.
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| ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn takes a selfie while attending the Youth Dialogue within the framework of ASEAN Forture Forum (AFF) in Ha Noi, on April 23, 2024. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Joining the common “mission”
In 2025, Vietnam will celebrate 30 years of joining ASEAN. Looking back on nearly three decades, the ASEAN Secretary-General believes that Vietnam has made many contributions to ASEAN’s overall developments, notably through three terms as ASEAN Chairmanship (1998, 2010, 2020). Many milestone ASEAN documents named after Vietnam, such as the Hanoi Action Plan, the Hanoi Declaration on the Post-2025 Vision of the ASEAN Community, among others, which have been highly regarded by other ASEAN members.
Furthermore, the ASEAN Secretary-General highlighted Viet Nam’s contributions to peace, stability, and security in the region. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn noted that maintaining regional peace and stability is critically important for ASEAN and is one of ASEAN’s most important mission. Vietnam adopts a dialogue and diplomatic approach. Most recently, in April 2024, Vietnam successfully hosted the ASEAN Future Forum, an initiative of Vietnam and the first of its kind within ASEAN to promote dialogue and diplomacy.
Although being a track 1.5 diplomatic channel, the ASEAN Future Forum has proposed many innovative ideas for ASEAN’s next steps, contributing to the region’s overall development and prosperity amidst a complex and unpredictable world. “In the economic pillar - the ASEAN Economic Community, Vietnam is also a key contributor”, the ASEAN Secretary-General affirmed. Vietnam attracts substantial foreign direct investment, accounting for a large share of total foreign investment in the region. Viet Nam’s deep integration and robust economic growth are not only significant for Viet Nam’s development but also contribute to the development of the entire ASEAN region, strengthening ASEAN’s economy.
“I am impressed by Viet Nam’s development, lifting many people out of poverty. Over the past 29 years, Viet Nam’s GDP per capita has significantly increased. This is a major boost, an important contribution to ASEAN’s overall development”, the ASEAN Secretary-General highlighted.
| “ASEAN, as it evolves and transforms, has to maintain its core values and principles, as these are part of the ASEAN Identity. One core value and principle is decision-making by consensus. Another one is the principle of solidarity and unity. ASEAN is strong when it is united”. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn) |
In the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community pillar, according to Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Vietnam has also been very active through efforts to promote people-to-people connectivity, enhance public health cooperation and manage disaster risks. “There are many areas in daily life that seem minor and are often overlooked. However, they are very important as they attach to the lives and well-being of people. Cooperation creates benefits not only for Vietnamese citizens but people across the entire ASEAN community”, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn affirmed. Recently, Vietnam has also been proactive in promoting regional cooperation in the Mekong sub-region, narrowing development gaps for inclusive and sustainable development, especially in strategic infrastructure connectivity projects, positively impacting the socio-economic development in ASEAN’s poorer and less developed sub-regions.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn believes that, like other members of the ASEAN “common roof”, Viet Nam’s role is to convey ASEAN’s stories and voice. “I think Vietnam has made significant contributions to shaping ASEAN’s image today, not only in the community or region but also in ASEAN’s role on the international stage and in relations with partners like the United Nations. We look forward to seeing Vietnam continue to strengthen its international role and position, contributing to ASEAN’s overall development”, the Secretary-General concluded.
