This is not the first time Vietnam has served in this post. In 2010, when it held the role for the first time, the country made an impression with many practical activities and programs that considerably contributed to ASEAN’s development, as well as regional peace, stability and prosperity. This will be a solid foundation for Vietnam to act as the ASEAN Chair in 2020.
Vietnam has chosen “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, which will focus on bringing into play the bloc’s internal strengths through solidarity and connectivity, which include its cohesiveness in terms of economy and community building, along with each country’s people-centered development.
Through its ASEAN chairmanship, Vietnam is set to demonstrate its leadership and coordination capability to help member countries grasp opportunities, overcome challenges, and build a sustainable community.
With that goal, Vietnam has put forth five priorities for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. They include enhancing the bloc’s performance of its role and contribution to the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability; boosting regional connectivity, improving the capacity of adapting to and capitalizing on the Fourth Industrial Revolution; promoting the awareness of the ASEAN Community and its identities to create common values for the group; reinforcing partnerships for peace and sustainable development with countries around the world; and improving ASEAN’s adaptability and efficiency by reforming institutions and bettering the operations of the association’s apparatus.
| The 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits were attended by leaders of 10 ASEAN member countries, representatives of ASEAN partners (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia) and UN General Secretary. |
Vietnam has chosen “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, which will focus on bringing into play the bloc’s internal strengths through solidarity and connectivity, which include its cohesiveness in terms of economy and community building, along with each country’s people-centered development.
Through its ASEAN chairmanship, Vietnam is set to demonstrate its leadership and coordination capability to help member countries grasp opportunities, overcome challenges, and build a sustainable community.
With that goal, Vietnam has put forth five priorities for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. They include enhancing the bloc’s performance of its role and contribution to the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability; boosting regional connectivity, improving the capacity of adapting to and capitalizing on the Fourth Industrial Revolution; promoting the awareness of the ASEAN Community and its identities to create common values for the group; reinforcing partnerships for peace and sustainable development with countries around the world; and improving ASEAN’s adaptability and efficiency by reforming institutions and bettering the operations of the association’s apparatus.
 At the banquet to welcome the 35th ASEAN Summit and related summits. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  A video about Vietnam is shown at the ASEAN Chairmanship hand-over ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc receives the chairmanship hammer from his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He attends the 7th ASEAN – US Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc attends the 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Summit (China, Japan and South Korea). Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He also attends the 11th Mekong - Japan Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc attends the 16th ASEAN - India Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc attends the 3rd RCEP Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc attends the 22nd ASEAN - Japan Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  . He also attends the 14th East Asia Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
The ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 is considered the biggest multilateral event Vietnam will host next year, when the group will be half-way towards its plans to realize the ASEAN Vision 2025. It will also be an important year as the progress and achievements made will be evaluated in order to decide on the next steps to successfully achieve the targets of the ASEAN Community in 2025.
Also in 2020, Vietnam will act as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Both positions are important diplomatic roles that will enable the country to illustrate its standing, prestige, as well as capacity in the international arena. It will also represent the whole ASEAN Community at the UN. Many countries have expressed their belief that Vietnam will bring into play its capacity and show its sense of responsibility in these two positions.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a meeting with UN General Secretary António Guterres. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The Vietnamese PM has a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He meets with Japanses PM Shinzo Abe. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has a meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  The Vietnamese PM also meets with Robert Charles O'Brien, United States National Security Advisor and the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Photo: VNA  He has a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He has a reception for Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc receives Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He has a meeting with his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  PM Phuc attends the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between ASEAN and FIFA on FIFA’s support for football development in the region. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA  He witnesses the exchange of a cooperation agreement for the development of an integrated LNG-to-Power project in Ca Na, Ninh Thuan between Ninh Thuan province and Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA |
Story: VNP - Photos: VNA
