ASEAN remains the cornerstone of Brunei’s foreign policy

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (R) symbolically handed over medical supplies to Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Vietnam Pengiran Haji Sahar bin Pengiran Haji Salleh on May 18, 2020. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Brunei Darussalam became a member of ASEAN soon after we resumed independence in 1984. For us in Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN remains the cornerstone of our foreign policy, as we have greatly benefitted from our cooperation with other ASEAN Member States as well as ASEAN's external partners through the various ASEAN-led processes. At the same time, ASEAN provides Brunei Darussalam with a platform to contribute towards initiatives that benefit the region as a whole. Overall, ASEAN has helped to maintain regional peace and stability whilst also enabling countries to enhance prosperity for their people.

Overall, we believe that it is important to ensure that the peoples of ASEAN continue to live in a peaceful, secure and prosperous region. In order to meet this expectation, we must work together to overcome challenges that affect both our region and the rest of the world. Currently, we are all facing the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the lives of our peoples and the economies of all countries. Therefore, it is crucial for ASEAN to undertake a holistic approach in addressing the pandemic whilst encouraging greater cooperation amongst its Member States and with its external partners. This will include, among others, pursuing greater economic integration, improving our human capital, and deepening collaboration between the relevant stakeholders. Under the able leadership of Vietnam this year, ASEAN has come together and found innovative ways to move forward towards achieving our goals.

Looking forward, ASEAN will continue to be vital to ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. It is therefore important to continue working towards realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, as well as ASEAN's various other goals and objectives. At the same time, ASEAN must continue to focus on harnessing the caring nature of countries in the region to build a harmonious and resilient community with the people at its center. This includes providing people with the skills and enabling environment to seize opportunities as well as overcome challenges. As the future of ASEAN is also closely tied with the wider region and international community, it is important for ASEAN to continue consultations and pursuing consensus-building in order to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity, and build a strong regional community with mutually beneficial cooperation with external partners.

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