The 400-page book presents documents on the establishment and development of the ASEAN Channel 2 and its relations with other international relation channels in the region.

The author offers his own assessment of major issues in this field, and suggestions related to Vietnam’s participation in Channel 2 and in ASEAN in general.

Little research has been done on Channel 2 in the world as well as in Vietnam. The first institution of ASEAN was set up in 1988. Seven years later, the channel was officially recognised in ASEAN documents. Besides Channel 1 – the official diplomatic channel of governments – and Channel 3 – the people-to-people diplomatic channel, Channel 2 plays the role of promoting dialogues and strengthening internal solidarity, thus facilitating cooperation programmes, and deepening ASEAN alliance.

Vietnam joined ASEAN’s Channel 2 in 1995. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son writes in the book’s introduction that the joining created more opportunities for the country to exchange and integrate in the world. The combination of Channel 2 with Channels 1 and 3 helped Vietnam effectively carry out its foreign policies of multilateralisation and diversification, increasing relations of not only governments, but also ruling parties, communist parties, and people.