Impressed by Viet Nam’s imprints to ASEAN: Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand
Since Viet Nam’s membership in 1995, Viet Nam has demonstrated her commitment to the aims and purposes of ASEAN as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration that gave birth to ASEAN on 8 August 1968. Thailand as birthplace of ASEAN admires Viet Nam for the substantial contribution and many imprints to ASEAN.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Viet Nam, Urawadee Sriphiromya, in February 2025. (Source: VNA) |
Fulfilling the aspiration of ASEAN
These are reflected in Viet Nam’s continuous engagement in advancing peace, security and stability for the region, upholding the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the ASEAN Charter. Viet Nam played an important role in fulfilling the aspiration of ASEAN Founding Fathers to have the participation of all Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN.
Viet Nam succeeded in assuming the role of ASEAN Chairmanship for 3 times. In December 1998, “the Hanoi Plan of Action” had been adopted during the 6th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, laying cooperation framework to achieve ASEAN Vision 2020.
In 2010, Viet Nam Chairmanship led to an expansion of members of the East Asia Summit (EAS) to Russia and the US. Viet Nam also worked on an initiative to expand ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting mechanism (ADMM Plus). These helped further strengthen ASEAN relations with external partners.
Even during the challenging time of the spread of Covid-19 in 2020, Viet Nam managed to promote collective efforts in addressing the pandemic.
To maintain peace, stability in the region, Viet Nam has been a staunch supporter of efforts and initiatives promoting international and regional maritime safety and security as well as the importance of freedom of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea, resolving disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 29. (Source: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
On the economic front, Viet Nam has played crucial role in promoting regional economic growth and sustainable prosperity. To realize these goals, Viet Nam has played an integral part in narrowing development gaps among members especially through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).
With economic strategic advantage, Viet Nam has so much to contribute to regional connectivity through initiatives like the East-West Economic Corridor and North South Corridor. ASEAN is Viet Nam’s fourth-largest exporter market and third-largest import, while Viet Nam’s total trade with ASEAN countries reached 83.6 billion USD in 2024.
With an aim to achieve at least 8% growth in 2025 and double-digit growth in following years, while accelerating green growth, high technology and innovation development, Viet Nam is in a position to forge ASEAN’s economic growth and digital transformation in the next decades.
Hand in hand to achieve shared visions
For almost 60 years, ASEAN has proven its strength and resilience and remains a driving force for peace, security and economic growth in the region while becoming very important player at the international level. ASEAN is again in a period of uncertainty and volatility. Geopolitical tension along with current global tariff and trade challenges are affecting economic prospects and supply chain for ASEAN.
At the same time, ASEAN Member States are faced with more complex traditional and non-traditional security challenges like climate change, cybersecurity, transnational crimes and future megatrends. In response to these challenges and turning them into opportunities, ASEAN should chart its way forward with unity and solidarity, placing our peoples at the centre.
ASEAN shared visions and aspirations to be “Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic, and People-Centred regional bloc, must be driven through ASEAN-led mechanisms based on mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit. ASEAN Member States must uphold peace and stability, multilateralism, promote a strong regional architecture with ASEAN at the centre during this challenging time.
As a proactive ASEAN member, Viet Nam can contribute to these collective efforts in many aspects. Thailand as ASEAN’s Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation is ready to work hand in hand with Viet Nam and other member states to achieve our shared visions.
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| Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya at the "Meet Thailand" Conference in August 2024. (Photo: TH) |
First, to make ASEAN more sustainable and resilient, Viet Nam, with her ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and her remarkable progress on technological develop, can support ASEAN’s push towards green, smart, and Innovative region.
Second, Viet Nam can help accelerate ASEAN integration as she is actively working on connectivity agenda to fully develop and utilize regional transport by land, air and maritime linkages for regional supply chain and economic benefits as well as for people to people exchanges.
Third, Viet Nam can promote dialogues and provide inputs for policy makers among ASEAN members and external partners to help shape the future direction of ASEAN. Viet Nam’s initiative on “ASEAN Future Forum”, announced by H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam at the 43rd ASEAN summit 2023 provides a valuable platform for ASEAN to take the lead in diplomacy and dialogue.
