ASEAN community programme held in Hanoi

Vietnamese stamp celebrates establishment of ASEAN Community ASEAN SOMs discuss bloc community formation The event, co-hosted by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation Association and Vietnam friendship associations with ASEAN member states, was concurrent with the 20th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership in ASEAN and the 48th founding anniversary of the bloc.

In his speech, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong called on the union’s staff, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and all walks of life to increase their understanding of the upcoming ASEAN Community and Vietnam’s involvement in its formation.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam has been a responsible member of ASEAN since its entry on July 28, 1995.

ASEAN has become one of the top trade partners of Vietnam with Vietnam’s trade with the bloc hitting US$42.12 billion last year, over 14% of its total trade.

Cooperation within the bloc across environmental protection, climate change response, education, health care, labour, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges has come to fruition, making it easier for Vietnam to respond to challenges and provide for its people.

He also hailed the Vietnam-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation Association and the Vietnam’s friendship associations with regional member states for their role in fostering mutual solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

The Deputy PM expressed his strong confidence that he will see achievements across the board once the ASEAN Community debuts later this year.

He reiterated that the Vietnamese government will help people from all backgrounds to positively contribute to the Community.

Founded on August 8, 1967, ASEAN has grown into a regional comprehensive partnership and an integrated and vibrant political-economic entity grouping 10 Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

As a large market with over 600 million people and an economy worth nearly US$3 trillion, ASEAN is current the seventh largest economy globally and forecast to become the fourth largest by 2050.