pm’s speech on asean founding anniversary (14/08/2012)   | |

  PM’s speech on ASEAN founding anniversary (14/08/2012)   | | | | | | | | | | | The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will celebrate its 45th founding anniversary on August 8. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 7 | | delivered a televised speech on this occasion. | | The following is the full text of the statement:   | | | | Today, we join other Governments and people of ASEAN member countries in celebrating the 45th anniversary of the foundation of ASEAN. This is a special | | milestone for ASEAN, marking a path of growth and maturity with admirable achievements.   | | | | Following four and a half decades of continued expansion of cooperation and promotion of integration, ASEAN has forged an important standing in the region | | and the world with recognised credit for its positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia – | | Pacific. In the advent of the ASEAN Community, the Association has been making strong moves with great efforts to strengthen cooperation and integration | | within ASEAN in the political-security, economic and cultural — social pillars. On top of that are efforts to narrow the development gap while expanding and | | upgrading multi-sided, mutually beneficial cooperation with outside partners, including major powers and centres of the world. ASEAN has played its central | | role in leading important dialogue and cooperation processes, such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) etc. It has been | | the main driver to promote regional cooperation and connectivity in East Asia.   | | | | The main factor that makes ASEAN’s standing and visibility is its capacity to maintain the “ unity in diversity” and create synergy from the unity, solidarity| | and the “ ASEAN Way “. ASEAN has always promoted consensus, mutual respect and assistance, focusing on and harmonising national interest with that of the | | whole community. The power of ASEAN unity has been tested as it sailed through the 1997 — 1998 financial crisis, working together and sharing with one | | another in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and pandemics affecting the region. Solidarity and unity are also key to the prestige and | | credibility of ASEAN in its relations with outside partners.   | | | | The past 45 years also witnessed ASEAN’s initiative, creativeness and adaptability in facing new developments in the region and the world. Peace, stability, | | security and development in the region would have been impossible without ASEAN’ positive contributions. The Association has adopted many important | | Documents, such as the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (TAC), Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), ARF Vision Statement 2020, Roadmap for an | | ASEAN Community by 2015, ASEAN Charter and so on.   | | | | ASEAN has always attached importance to the furtherance of its cooperation with partners via the establishment of ASEAN-led regional mechanisms and | | cooperation forums such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS, ARF etc. ASEAN centrality has been promoted thanks to its ability to reconcile, connect and balance | | concerns and interest in order to work together on building an environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the region as well as supporting efforts | | for connectivity and development. This is an important element that helps an organisation modest in size with a concert of small and medium countries to | | become a centre of gravity attracting partners, big and small, within and outside the region actively engaged in the processes of dialogue and cooperation in| | the Asia — Pacific.   | | Formidable changes have been seen in the region and the world and in ASEAN itself in the past 45 years. However, what remain unchanged and need to be | | preserved and promoted in the new context are ASEAN’s norms, principles, ways of doing things and particularities. To achieve the ASEAN Community by 2015, | | ASEAN needs to observe with flexibility and skills the following principles and guidelines:   | | | | First, remain one-minded in resolve and take strong actions to complete on schedule with quality cooperation plans in all political — security, economic, | | cultural-social pillars in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community. Continue to intensify ASEAN connectivity, promote equitable, sustainable development and | | narrow the development gap. Strengthen actions on and raise the awareness about the building of a caring Community among regional Governments and people.   | | | | Second, firmly maintain the fundamental principles, stay united and unanimous while being proactive and creative in settling emerging issues in the new | | development stage, especially challenges to peace, stability, security and development in the region. Continue to promote dialogue on building and sharing | | codes of conducts and conflict prevention. Strictly deliver on the commitments included in such documents as the TAC, SEANWFZ, Declaration on the Conduct of | | Parties in the East Sea (DOC) etc. Settle peacefully all disputes and differences on the basis of international law and the ASEAN spirit of solidarity.   | | | | Third, continually expand comprehensive cooperation with outside partners and be proactive in engaging them in the endeavours for peace, stability and | | development in the region as well as in supporting the process of community building, deepened integration and connectivity, and response to emerging | | challenges. To maintain ASEAN’s centrality in the region, the Association needs to strengthen unity, maintain a common position and voice on regional and | | international issues of common concern and interest of partners and ASEAN.   | | | | Significant obstacles and challenges are awaiting ASEAN on its journey ahead. However, ASEAN has the common desire and interest in maintaining an environment| | of peace, stability for shared development and the experience and maturity earned in the past 45 years. It has the spirit of solidarity and ability to adopt | | flexible responses. This gives us the ground to solidly believe in the success of ASEAN in achieving its goal regardless of obstacles and challenges.   | | | | During the past 17 years, as an ASEAN member and at the new development stage of the Association, Vietnam always remains active, proactive and acts | | responsibly in contributing to the making of a strong, united, integrated ASEAN with an increasing role and position in the region and the world for the | | prosperous development of its member countries, peace, stability and cooperation in the region. ASEAN has been and will be an important pillar in Vietnam’s | | foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations.   | | | | On the occasion of ASEAN’s 45th anniversary, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Governments and | | people of other member countries in the ASEAN family and of partners of ASEAN.   | | | | May ASEAN continue to see sustained growth and greater successes given the remarkable achievements recorded in the past 45 years and deliver a life of peace,| | wellbeing and prosperity for all people in the region./. | | VNA |