On the occasion of the up-coming 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem granted the Vietnam News Agency an interview about the summit’s agenda and significance as well as Vietnam’s suggestions for the event.
Below are the interview details:
Q: Excellency Deputy Prime Minister, would you please talk about the importance of the 16th ASEAN Summit that is taking place in a year when Vietnam takes on the position of ASEAN Chair?
A: The 16th ASEAN Summit - the first summit of ASEAN leaders in 2010--is significant for boosting the establishment of a joint community as it provides guidelines for cooperation within ASEAN. This is also the first meeting of ASEAN heads of state hosted by Vietnam during its tenure as chair of the bloc. Therefore, the successful organisation of this summit is very important for Vietnam in particular and for ASEAN in general, creating a good beginning for all of ASEAN’s activities and tasks throughout the rest of the year.
This year is a turning point for the formation of the ASEAN Community, which is set for 2015. The summit is an opportunity for ASEAN to map out orientations to ensure the effective and well-timed implementation of cooperation programmes and plans as agreed within the ASEAN framework. This will give more impetus for ASEAN to quickly realise its goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
The summit also offers a chance for Vietnam to promote its image as a peaceful, stable and prosperous country with abundant historical and cultural values, which is developing dynamically and actively, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Q: Would you elaborate on the major content of the summit?
A: At this summit, ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions on stepping up the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the process of building the ASEAN Community, the role of ASEAN in regional structures, economic recovery and sustainable development and responses to global challenges, including climate change. The leaders will also spend time discussing regional and international issues of common concern.
Q: Could you talk about Vietnam ’s new suggestions at the Summit and their significance? What is Vietnam ’s message?
A: As the ASEAN Chair and the host country of the 16th ASEAN Summit, Vietnam has actively coordinated with other ASEAN members to build the draft Agenda, Action Programme and the list of documents to be submitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at this conference.
On the one hand, we have made suggestions and ASEAN countries have agreed on the priorities of the Summit . On the other hand, aside from speeding up the building of an ASEAN community and the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, we have actively proposed and coordinated with other regional countries to build and submit to the high-ranking leaders at the Summit drafts on the Leaders’ Declaration on Restoration and Sustainable Development and the Declaration on Cooperation in Coping with Climate Change.
This is the foundation for further strengthening cooperation within ASEAN to deal with arising challenges.
In the role of the ASEAN Chair, we wish to convey to international friends a message on Vietnam as a “proactive, positive and responsible” country which is doing its utmost together with other ASEAN member countries to successfully create an ASEAN Community in 2015.
Q: Could you tell us about the new aspects of the 16th ASEAN Summit compared to previous ones?
A: If 2009 was a transitional year for ASEAN—where it was learning to operate with its new apparatus and under the regulations of the Charter--2010 will be the year when the grouping officially operates under the Charter, creating a premise and helping formulate new rules for its operations in the following years.
As a conference among ASEAN leaders without the participation of partners, the 16th Summit will offer a chance for ASEAN to discuss intra-bloc cooperation issues.
The 17th Summit , scheduled for later this year, will be an extended conference with the participation of the bloc’s partners. This is a new point compared to the non-Charter period.
Protocol etiquettes and programmes will be held in high esteem under the ASEAN rules and directed towards reducing formalities and focusing on content in order to make ASEAN’s activities more effective and professional.
Q: How would you evaluate Vietnam ’s preparations for this Summit ?
A: In the spirit of pro-activeness, positiveness and responsibility, Vietnam has spent a long time preparing for the 16th ASEAN Summit. With best efforts contributed by sub-committees under the National Committee for ASEAN 2010, ministries, sectors and Hanoi authorities the preparations have been completed.
The summit will take place over the course of two days with the usual activities: the opening ceremony, the plenary session, a working dinner and a retreat meeting of ASEAN leaders. As ASEAN Chair in 2010, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will chair the opening ceremony, discussions and press briefings at the close of the Summit . State President Nguyen Minh Triet will receive and host a party to ASEAN leaders.
Logistics, reception, media, security and medical care have all been well taken care of, showing the host’s respect in accordance with ASEAN guidelines. Donations from leading Vietnamese enterprises have contributed to helping reduce expenditures from the State budget. In sum, Vietnam is ready for the 16th ASEAN Summit.
Q: As ASEAN Chair in 2010, what priorities will Vietnam give to promoting the process of building an ASEAN Community in 2015 and improving the international position of ASEAN?
A: The focus of ASEAN cooperation in 2010 and the ASEAN Chair’s leading task is to accelerate its actions to realise ASEAN’s goals. So, the theme of ASEAN 2010 is “Towards an ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action”.
Vietnam ’s priority as ASEAN Chair is to contribute to boosting solidarity and linkages among ASEAN nations, effectively implementing both the Charter and the roadmaps on building an ASEAN Community, as well as expanding and deepening cooperation between ASEAN and its partners in order to maintain the role and position of ASEAN in the region and the world.
With determination and a great sense of responsibility, on the basis of the experience of the past 15 years of participation in ASEAN and based on cooperation and assistance from other ASEAN members and partners, we maintain a strong belief that Vietnam will successfully execute its duties as ASEAN Chair in 2010./.