Present at the ceremony were Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, representatives from several Vietnamese ministries, Head of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps in Hanoi, Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondón Uzcátegui, ambassadors and chargé d’affairs of embassies of ASEAN member states in Hanoi.
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At the flag-raising ceremony |
This annual ceremony, which is a demonstration of pride of ASEAN member states and ASEAN as a whole, aims to promote common values of the bloc as well as solidarity, friendship and cooperation among member states.
As an ASEAN member since July 28, 1995, Vietnam has worked closely with other ASEAN member countries to boost solidarity and cooperation and build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.
Hoisting the ASEAN flag next to the national flag on the day every year, Vietnam demonstrates its high determination to make contribution to the building and development of an ASEAN Community as well as promote the image of ASEAN and ASEAN Community domestically and internationally.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh said that it was proud to review the development of ASEAN and achievements of its member states over the past more than half of a century, and to head for the future of the ASEAN Community.
Minh said that 51 years ago on August 8, 1967, ASEAN leaders laid a foundation for the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous community of Southeast Asian nations and emphasized “it is the ASEAN Community of solidarity, self-reliance, mutual assistance and sharing, of the people and for the people.”
ASEAN has developed strongly over the five decades and now become a model of success, peace, cooperation and development, Minh added.
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Delegates pose for a joint photo |
The establishment of an ASEAN Community in 2015 is a historical landmark in the ASEAN connectivity process which is significant to ASEAN, the region and each ASEAN member state. Each member of the ASEAN Community is striving to meet the strategic goals of the ASEAN Community Vision to 2025.
With a population of 630 million people and total GDP of approximately USD 2.6 trillion, ASEAN serves as a driving force for the regional economy and keeps a prestigious position in Asia-Pacific.
In his speech, Deputy PM and FM Minh also confirmed that developing relations with ASEAN is one of the top priorities of Vietnam’s foreign policy. For 23 years of ASEAN’s membership, Vietnam has been proud to get active and proactive involvement in and make contribution to the ASEAN cooperation process and to the building of an ASEAN Community.
As an active and responsible member, Vietnam will continue teaming with other ASEAN member countries to realize effectively the ASEAN Community Vision towards 2025 in the spirit of solidarity, dynamism and creativity, and with the extensive involvement and active contribution of people from all social strata, Minh said.
Translated by Mai Huong