On August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established, initiating a process of deep integration for peace , stability and development in the Southeast Asian region. At the age of 57, ASEAN has increasingly affirmed its vitality, brand and central role. And in the 57-year development journey of ASEAN, Vietnam has always affirmed itself as an active and responsible member, playing a core role in the development of ASEAN.

Regional cooperation model

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967, and currently includes 10 member countries: Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia (Timor-Leste is on track to be admitted as an official member). The establishment of ASEAN 57 years ago reflects the common aspirations of many countries in the region for peace, stability, friendship and cooperation for mutual development. Despite differences in religion, development level, infrastructure, information technology, etc., the countries have always supported, helped and developed together in all aspects. Since its inception, ASEAN has demonstrated its important role in turning Southeast Asia into a region of peace, prosperity and stability; from a backward economic region to a locomotive promoting global growth and integration. From a population of about 260 million when it was first established, ASEAN is now home to more than 650 million people and a potential market. It is forecasted that by 2050, ASEAN will be the fourth largest economy in the world. ASEAN's most important success over the past 57 years has been to ensure peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region, with member states building increasingly good cooperative relationships. Differences between members, disagreements or disputes are all prevented and resolved on the basis of common interests.

The foundation for the successes over the past six decades has been ASEAN's intra-bloc cooperation mechanisms implemented through treaties, forums, conferences, projects, development programs, the building of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and regional cultural and sports activities. Notably, ASEAN has promoted the establishment and led the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), making increasingly important contributions to resolving common regional issues. Notably, ASEAN has expressed its steadfast stance in maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and the region, such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in 2002 and negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) which are expected to be completed soon, along with many other important developments.

ASEAN's most important success over the past 57 years has been to ensure the maintenance of peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region, and for member countries to build increasingly good cooperative relationships.

In particular, the ASEAN Community has entered its 9th year of formation and development, since December 31, 2015, and is on the journey to realize the Vision 2025 and build the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025. Currently, ASEAN is making efforts to complete the 2025 Blueprint on all three pillars ( Politics -Security, Economy, Culture-Society) of the ASEAN Community and build the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025 to prepare for the next stage of development. Accordingly, ASEAN focuses on improving institutional capacity and promoting cooperation according to current major trends, such as inclusive recovery, sustainable development, digital transformation, circular economy, etc. In addition, ASEAN has also established quite close cooperative relations with many important countries and organizations in the world, including all major countries. To date, 94 partners have sent Ambassadors to ASEAN, 54 ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organizations (ACTCs) have been established. ASEAN has 11 dialogue partners (including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, Canada, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom), 4 sectoral dialogue partners and 4 development partners. In general, ASEAN has been successful in creating an environment for countries to promote dialogue, build trust, enhance cooperation, prevent incidents, resolve differences and disputes, thereby promoting peace, stability and security in the region. Forums/mechanisms initiated and led by ASEAN have attracted the participation of partners in regional cooperation.

Currently, ASEAN is preparing to enter a new stage of development, after completing the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, in the context of a rapidly changing world and region. The new situation raises many big questions for ASEAN now and in the future, such as how ASEAN can maintain its central role, adapt to changes in the region and the world; how to balance the process of innovation and development with maintaining ASEAN's core values... However, ASEAN leaders believe that the challenges and opportunities brought about by the geopolitical environment can be the basis for ASEAN to build a post-2025 Vision that is truly suitable and responsive to the development of the ASEAN Community. Recently, at the 42nd ASEAN Summit held in Labuan Bajo town, East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia (May 2023), ASEAN member leaders approved the Roadmap for the admission of Timor-Leste as an official member. Increasing the total number of members to 11 is expected to contribute to strengthening the Association's central role, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Vietnam - Outstanding contributions and marks in ASEAN

Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 28, 1995. During nearly 30 years of accompanying ASEAN, Vietnam has always strived to proactively, positively and responsibly contribute to a strong, united ASEAN with a role and position in the region and the world. Since joining the "common house" until now, as a member, as well as when taking on important responsibilities of the Association, Vietnam has always affirmed its core role, leading and making a strong mark of contribution to the development of ASEAN. In the spirit of proactiveness, positivity and responsibility, Vietnam stands side by side with member countries to make practical contributions to the efforts to build a strong ASEAN Community, maintain solidarity, unity and promote the central role of the Association, for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region. The policy and direction of participating in ASEAN cooperation have become an important part of Vietnam's foreign policy in the new period, a strategic focus of Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy . Promoting its role as a nucleus promoting solidarity and unity, immediately after joining ASEAN, Vietnam actively promoted the admission of Laos, Myanmar (in 1997) and Cambodia (in 1999) into the Association. This effort contributed to realizing the idea of ​​an ASEAN including all 10 Southeast Asian countries, creating a new qualitative change for ASEAN and the regional situation at that time.

Vietnam's outstanding contributions include its three times assuming the role of ASEAN Chair (1998, 2010 and 2020). In December 1998, just three years after joining ASEAN, Vietnam successfully organized the 6th ASEAN Summit, adopting the Hanoi Action Plan, making an important contribution to strengthening solidarity, promoting cooperation, and orienting the development and cooperation of the Association to implement the ASEAN Vision 2020. As ASEAN Chair in 2010, with the goal of promoting the realization of ASEAN's Vision into action, Vietnam's term as Chair marked important decisions such as approving the first Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC 2015); expanding the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanism to include Russia and the US as well as forming a defense cooperation framework between ASEAN and its Partners through the ADMM+ mechanism. In its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, in an unprecedented context, Vietnam has promoted the ASEAN Community to unite and respond effectively and promptly to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, maintain solidarity, maintain ASEAN's connectivity, support people's stable lives, and promote recovery efforts. Initiatives proposed by Vietnam in this context, including the online meeting format, continue to be promoted by member countries, contributing to enhancing ASEAN's adaptability and self-reliance, as well as accelerating the region's post-pandemic recovery process. In addition to actively fulfilling its role as ASEAN's rotating Chair, Vietnam has also made important contributions to decisions to guide ASEAN's development, such as promoting the completion of the ASEAN-10 idea, adopting the 1998 Hanoi Action Plan, ASEAN Vision 2020 (1997), the Declaration of ASEAN Concord (2003) on building the ASEAN Community, the ASEAN Charter (2007), the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 (2015), and in the current period, building the ASEAN Community Vision to 2045. In particular, in the context of ASEAN preparing to enter a new development phase, at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in September 2023, Vietnam proposed the initiative to host the ASEAN Future Forum to complement the Association's official forums and mechanisms, creating opportunities for a broad exchange of ideas and initiatives on regional cooperation, contributing to building a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community. The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 took place in Hanoi (April 23, 2024), attracting the participation of nearly 400 delegates. This is a very prominent mark of Vietnam in ASEAN, one of the most important multilateral foreign affairs events that Vietnam will host in 2024, demonstrating Vietnam's proactive contributions to regional cooperation, promoting ASEAN's central role, and putting ASEAN people at the center of all policy decisions. The mission of the ASEAN Future Forum is to contribute to the process of finding answers to questions about the future of ASEAN, so that more than ever, ASEAN is not passive on the development journey and no one is forgotten in the large "house" of ASEAN. In addition, in the relationship between ASEAN and its partners, Vietnam has assumed the role of coordinator, contributing to promoting substantive and effective cooperation between ASEAN and many important partners such as China, the US, Russia, Japan, South Korea and is preparing to take over the coordination of two partners, New Zealand and the UK, from July 2024 for a 3-year term. Vietnam is also always among the top countries in terms of the rate of implementing commitments on economic integration in the ASEAN region, and at the same time, is a country that initiated the idea of ​​forming the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, paying great attention to building a harmonious, cohesive, unique, and people-centered ASEAN Community. Vietnam's commitment to ASEAN is consistent and continuous. It can be affirmed that, during the 29-year journey since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has rapidly integrated and participated extensively in all areas of ASEAN cooperation and made positive contributions to maintaining solidarity within the bloc, enhancing cooperation between member countries as well as between ASEAN and external partners, contributing significantly to the development and success of ASEAN. Experts and scholars with reputation in ASEAN studies all agree that over the past nearly three decades, Vietnam has undeniably proven that ASEAN membership has created new momentum not only for Vietnam itself but also for this "57-year-old" organization./.