Gaining 'remarkable' achievements, Vietnam affirmed its bravery amid upheavals: Ambassador
Vietnam always strive to promote ASEAN to become a strategically important partner with partners, especially major powers, said Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh.
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Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh affirmed when talking with the presses that Vietnam has an extremely important position in ASEAN, and at the same time has the ability to maintain good relations with countries, including big powers, even though there is a complex competition between them.
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| Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh had spent many years working on ASEAN. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa) |
“Remarkable” success in ASEAN
Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said that the world is being strongly and "unprecedentedly" divided since the Cold War. Specifically, competition between major countries is increasing, typically the complexity in US-China relations. Along with that, it is the policy adjustment of allied countries as competition between these two powers is heightened.
Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh also mentioned emerging challenges from epidemics, climate change, to the Russia-Ukraine conflict or other hot spots around the world that have profound impacts on the general security and development environment.
In a such comlex situation, according to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, there are some still bright pots.
Firstly, though the competition between great powers strategically is happening, the tendency in this region is still peace; stablity and cooperation. Secondly, this is a dynamic development area, the growth engine of the world. Thirdly, multilateralism and international law are still the mainstream. Notably, it is ASEAN's role and value in contributing to peace and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh noted that Vietnam has an important role and position in ASEAN and in the region in general, while maintaining good relations with other countries, including major powers, even though they are in the complex competition with each other.
The Ambassador especially emphasized on Vietnam's success in ASEAN. Vietnam joined ASEAN later than many other countries, but the role and position of Vietnam and of ASEAN in general are gradually changing drastically, he said.
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| In 2020, when Vietnam chaired ASEAN, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly appeared, causing the region and the whole world to struggle. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
For example, in 2020, when Vietnam chaired ASEAN, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly appeared, causing the region and the whole world to struggle. Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh cited evidence that, in the most difficult times, Vietnam has come up with many useful initiatives which led to the establishment of a reserve fund to fight the Covid-19 pandemic; the organization of more than 30 online meeting programs at ministerial level and equivalent, two ASEAN summits, a special meeting of senior officials (SOM) and ASEAN consultative meetings (SOM), etc.
Vietnam always strive to promote ASEAN to become a strategically important partner with partners, especially major powers; to deploy development and security initiatives and to address common challenges in the region.
Choose cooperation, not sides
Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh analyzed the factors that help Vietnam gain its current international position and role. First of all, Vietnam's perspective is to choose cooperation with other countries and not choose sides; promote relations based on respect and mutually beneficial cooperation; strengthen national capability and follow a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and making friends with other countries.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, nowadays, challenges and opportunities are very complexly intertwined. However, Vietnam has promptly handled the complications that have arisen, expanding cooperation with other countries while also being able to promptly grasp and take advantage of each opportunity in a challenging world context.
“The most important point is to be consistent with a foreign policy of peace, independence and self-reliance, diversification and making friends with other countries. The first step is to best ensure national interests, along with mutually beneficial cooperation and interwoven interests with other countries”, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh stated.
Then, Vietnam always supports cooperation frameworks and mechanisms to solve common issues. Vietnam also prioritizes promoting good relations with neighbors, regions and major countries, key partners as well as prioritizing the cooperation with organizations such as ASEAN, APEC, and the United Nations (UN).
Therefore, according to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, when big countries compete with each other, not choosing sides is right but not enough. We must also choose to cooperate with other countries, choose international laws, choose national interests, choose peace and development, as well as choose to support multilateralism, dialogue and cooperation in responding to common challenges.
The most important thing for Vietnam is to be consistent in its foreign policy and how to maintain and strengthen a favorable environment for peace and security as well as the development of the country.
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