Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaks to celebrate the ASEAN Community and the New Year 2016. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

 

"Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries will enter the year 2016 as members of a common AC family that was built on three pillars: political-security, economic and cultural-social. The establishment of the AC was part of the region's natural development thanks to the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over nearly half a century.
It is the shared vision and commitments of ASEAN member countries to elevate their cooperation and integration in order to better tap opportunities and respond to new challenges.

Acknowledging that ASEAN Community building is a continuous and evolving process, ASEAN has adopted ASEAN Community Vision 2025, which represents the determination of all members to further deepen ASEAN integration, and to realise a rules-based, people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN Community that is outward looking and plays an important role in the region. With ASEAN spirit, strengths and Vision 2025, ASEAN will certainly build a solid foundation and create strong momentum for the development of all Southeast Asian countries, of ASEAN and the entire region. We take great pride in this particular success, but are also deeply aware that the situation in the region is becoming more complicated, especially in the East Sea.

As an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam is determined to protect its sovereignty and legitimate rights and consistently pursues the principles of solving disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, the UN Charter, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam protested the use of and threat of using force, militarisation and unilateral actions which change the status quo and threaten security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, violate international law, increase tension, degrade trust, and affect peace, security and stability in the region.

Vietnam will do its best together with other countries in the region to maintain peace in the East Sea and the region and call on parties to implement fully and effectively DOC and discuss an early conclusion of COC.

Vietnam will, in collaboration with other regional countries, do its utmost to consolidate peace and stability in the region and in the East Sea and require involved parties to fully abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea toward adopting the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. We sincerely thank and call on the international community to have strong voices and actions to support Vietnam and ASEAN’s endeavours for peace and stability and law compliance in the region and the world.

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaks to celebrate the ASEAN Community and the New Year 2016. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA



Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and delegates. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA 

ASEAN is a pillar and strategic priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. During its 20-year journey together with ASEAN guided by the principles of proactive, active and responsible participation, Vietnam has seriously fulfilled all commitments and obligations of a member state. The country has been among the leading members in delivering the ASEAN Economic Community building commitments, and also made significant contributions to ASEAN development, which were recognised and highly appreciated by countries in and outside the region.

In the future, Vietnam will continue to work hard to build capacities in the country, mobilise resources, seriously deliver its integration commitments, and work closely with other countries to realise the ASEAN Community.

I wish to underline that ambassadors, chief representatives of foreign missions, international organisations and all foreign guests have a critical role to play as a bridge to connect your respective countries and organisations with Vietnam, and through Vietnam, with the ASEAN Community.

I hope that you will continue to bring into full play your special missions, and join us in building a strong and united ASEAN and its centrality in the region for the sake of peace, cooperation and development of the region and the world”.
 

By VNA/VNP