Workshop reviews 15 years of ASEAN membership

HA NOI — A workshop yesterday reviewed how international awareness of Viet Nam has changed in the 15 years since its admission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Under the title Viet Nam-ASEAN: Past-Present-Future, the workshop also aimed to evaluate achievements and shortcomings in ASEAN co-operation during the period and prospects for the future.

Viet Nam's admission to ASEAN was an extremely important policy of the Party and Government in consistently implementing its foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, multilateralism and diversification in regional and international relations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem told the workshop.

"Viet Nam has become an integral part – an active, positive and responsible member – of the ASEAN house," Khiem said.

Workshop participants agreed that Viet Nam's admission to ASEAN had renewed how Viet Nam and its regional neighbours viewed each other. Perspectives shifted from confrontation and suspicion toward peace and co-operation.

ASEAN's important strategic position had also created opportunities to co-operate with partners inside and outside the region.

Workshop participants applauded the results and achievements Viet Nam had obtained in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment during the period.

Viet Nam needed to continue promoting its role and position in the bloc and to be more active and responsive in helping build the ASEAN community.

The event was viewed as a practical activity helping to contribute to the nation's successful fulfillment of its role as ASEAN chair in 2010. — VNS