Flag-hoisting ceremony marks 58th anniversary of ASEAN’s founding in Hanoi
WVR - This morning, August 8, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly held a flag-hoisting ceremony to mark the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to this organisation.
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| The ceremony is an annual ritual observed on August 8 by all ten ASEAN member states, symbolizing their shared pride. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In the fresh, cool air of Hanoi’s autumn, preparations for the ceremony began early in the morning. This is an annual ritual observed on August 8 by all ten ASEAN member states, symbolizing their shared pride.
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| In Vietnam, the flag-hoisting ceremony was carried out by the Honour Guard of the Vietnam People’s Army. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In Vietnam, the flag-hoisting ceremony was carried out by the Honour Guard of the Vietnam People’s Army, under the witness of Ambassadors, Chargés d’Affaires from ASEAN member states and partners, along with representatives from domestic ministries and agencies.
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| Representatives from embassies and international organizations — ASEAN’s partners — attended the ceremony. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
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| Under authorization of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu chaired the event. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Speaking at the ceremony, Standing Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu noted that the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is only a few steps away from Ba Dinh Square — where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence 80 years ago. That historic moment still echoes with the aspirations for sovereignty and self-determination that ASEAN continues to pursue today. The ceremony held special meaning, marking the 58th anniversary of ASEAN’s founding, the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community, and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the ASEAN family.
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| As the ceremonial music played, the military honour guard solemnly carried the ASEAN flag toward the flagpole to perform the hoisting ritual. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
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| It is a symbol of the unity in ASEAN’s principles and collective efforts, serving as a tool to enhance awareness and solidarity within the ASEAN Community. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The ASEAN flag features four colors — blue, red, white, and yellow — representing the main colors of member states’ national flags. It is a symbol of the unity in ASEAN’s principles and collective efforts, serving as a tool to enhance awareness and solidarity within the ASEAN Community.
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| The ceremony held special meaning, marking the 58th anniversary of ASEAN’s founding, the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community, and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the ASEAN family. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
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| Flag-hoisting ceremony marks 58th anniversary of ASEAN’s founding in Hanoi |
The Deputy Minister stressed that this milestone is particularly significant as Vietnam works toward two major goals: celebrating the 100th anniversary of the nation’s founding and the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. These historic occasions drive Vietnam’s commitment to becoming a strong and prosperous country — not only for itself, but also to make meaningful contributions to the ASEAN home and the shared prosperity of the region.
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| Representatives from embassies and international organizations — ASEAN’s partners — attended the ceremony. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The Standing Deputy Foreign Minister also pointed out the challenges ASEAN faces, including strategic competition, non-traditional security threats, unpredictable fluctuations in the global economy, and the erosion of strategic trust — all of which weaken multilateral cooperation. According to him, ASEAN’s centrality is the answer to these challenges: maintaining its role as the hub of regional dialogue and cooperation, and serving as a driving force for peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia.
“These challenges call for the very best qualities in us. Unity binds us. Cooperation strengthens us. Creativity drives us forward. Courage defines the true spirit of ASEAN. We must uphold these values to safeguard ASEAN’s centrality…”, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu said, citing the Vietnamese proverb: ‘One tree alone cannot make a hill; three trees together can make a high mountain’ — a metaphor for the spirit of solidarity, which is ASEAN’s core.
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| The flag-hoisting ceremony was carried out under the witness of Ambassadors, Chargés d’Affaires from ASEAN member states and partners, along with representatives from domestic ministries and agencies. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
