Vietnam reinforces solidarity and consensus among ASEAN at AMM-56

Vietnamese Ambassador to ASEAN Nguyen Hai Bang made the statement during a recent media interview given ahead of the AMM-56 which is scheduled to take place from July 10 to July 14 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Amid the world and the region facing plenty of difficulties and challenges that greatly affect socio-economic life, the AMM-56 and related meetings are viewed as be an opportunity for member states to focus on discussing current emerging issues; such as economic recovery; trade, investment; supply chain stabilization; and the bloc’s response to challenges such as climate change, development gap, the environment, epidemics, energy security, and food security.

According to details given by the Vietnamese diplomat, the event offers the chance for countries to re-evaluate the entire co-operation process of ASEAN and between the bloc and its partners over recent years in order to jointly outline future orientations.

This year’s meeting is being attended by 10 ASEAN member states, as well as partners. In addition to meetings between the 10 ASEAN members, there will be also meetings between ASEAN and each partner, the 13th EAS Foreign Ministers Meeting (EAS FMM), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

As usual every year, the event sees ASEAN and its partners discuss the regional and global situation, especially amid many hot spots continuing to face complicated developments.

This will also be given an opportunity to affirm the strategic role and value of ASEAN-led mechanisms in terms of promoting dialogue and co-operation, as well as creating a forum for countries to exchange views, thus helping to deepen understanding, narrow differences and consolidate trust.

Ambassador Bang said that ASEAN and its partners will continue to exchange views on carrying out key priorities ahead in the second half of the year, as well as the results achieved at the 42nd ASEAN Summit. including promoting growth and recovery; responding to non-traditional security challenges, especially food security, energy security, cyber security, transnational crime, health resilience, and financial-economic stability.

Enhancing the capacity and institutional effectiveness of the bloc, along with reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, will also be an important topic which will be continuously discussed at the meeting in order to adjust and supplement to suit the actual situation.

The objective will be to ensure that efforts to build the ASEAN Community are implemented smoothly and effectively across all three pillars of Politics-Security, Economy, and Culture-Society.

Meetings between ASEAN and partners will also touch upon important issues, evaluate the implementation of existing commitments, as well as orientations for co-operation moving forward.

The meeting is therefore projected to adopt a number of joint statements between ASEAN and its partners.

Ambassador Bang affirmed that the participation of the Vietnamese delegation led by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in this AMM-56 represents the continuation of Vietnamese commitments and responsibilities towards the region and the common work of the bloc as a whole.

Immediately from the beginning of the year, when Indonesia assumed the role of ASEAN Chair, the country moved to prepare to be able to participate and effectively contribute to all activities of the regional bloc.

In its capacity as the focal point responsible for negotiating a number of documents during the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN has actively contributed to initiatives proposed by the country.

Many major documents such as joint statements which are expected to be adopted at this meeting show the participation and contributions of the Vietnamese Delegation along with other delegations from ASEAN member states and their partner nations.

These contributions are highly appreciated and recognised by other countries, thereby helping to promote the image, role, and position of the nation within the bloc.

The Vietnamese diplomat added that with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, Indonesia, the host nation of the meeting, is determined to strengthen the bloc’s ability to respond to regional and global challenges, such as consolidating the association's position as an epicentre of growth.