Vietnam is happy to join hands with other ASEAN Members in laying important and firm foundations for the realization for the ASEAN Community by 2015, said Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung
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PM Nguyen Tan Dung delivers his keynote speech to open the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Ha Noi, July 20, 2010
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PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement today in Ha Noi at the opening ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-43) and other related meetings.
AMM-43 takes place when ASEAN has entered into a new stage of development, moving towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and operating on legal basis of the ASEAN Charter.
The achievements recorded to date are enormous and of great significance. In particular, the outcomes of the successful 16th ASEAN Summit has provided an important guidance and strong impetus for accelerating the ASEAN integration process while strengthening external relations and ensuring the ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
Five proposals of Vietnam
Addressing the significant event, PM Nguyen Tan Dung proposed five issues for ASEAN FMs to attach more attention to as follows:
First, realizing the goal of the ASEAN Community is the top priority for ASEAN now and in the years to come.
Mr. Dung recommended that ASEAN should set forth and carry out measures to speed up the implementation of the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community and other important programs, including the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity that is now being developed; continue with efforts in translating the ASEAN Charter into reality.
The Vietnamese Government chief also underlined the necessity to uphold the “culture of compliance” to ensure the effective realization of agreements through comprehensive and coordinated measures, notably enhancing the monitoring and supervision activities, collaboration and coordination among agencies, especially the Ministerial-level Community Councils which have a crucial role to play.
Second, maintaining peace and security in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific is the earnest desire and strong determination of all ASEAN Members States as well as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The decision of ASEAN Leaders on the convening of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting with 8 dialogue partners constitutes a new important development, said PM Dung.
Third, the Vietnamese Government chief highlighted consistent policy to promote ASEAN’s external relations.
Foreign Ministers have been tasked to undertake appropriate measures and modalities to implement the Leaders’ decisions, and make necessary recommendations to the 17th ASEAN Summit.
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The opening ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Ha Noi, July 20, 2010
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Fourth, according to the Vietnamese PM,ASEAN should present itself as a responsible member of the international community in responding to current global challenges, especially the financial and economic crisis; climate change, including sea-level rise; natural disasters, pandemics; and depletion of natural resources.
Fifth, strengthening the solidarity and unity, upholding traditional values and respecting fundamental principles of the Association continue to serve as the factors of utmost importance which ensure the success of ASEAN in the new era.
PM Dung held that in the context of both advantages and disadvantages in building the ASEAN Community, successes and shortcomings of ASEAN itself, and both opportunities and challenges.
This requires ASEAN to further promote all above-said important factors, respect and take into due consideration of the fundamental interests of each Member State, thus further enhancing the quality and effectiveness of ASEAN’s “unity in diversity”, said Mr. Dung.
PM Dung highlighted that during the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010, Vietnam has been doing her utmost to work closely with other Members States for tangible achievements in the ASEAN Community building process.
It was reported that this Meeting coincides with the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN. Being an integral part of the ASEAN family, it is Vietnam’s consistent policy to participate in ASEAN cooperation in a “proactive, positive and responsible” manner, thus contributing to building a strong and closely integrated ASEAN serving as the core of an evolving regional architecture, stressed the Vietnamese PM./.