Vietnam Marks ASEAN Anniversary with Commitment to Regional Unity and Community Vision 2045
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam on Friday held an ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony in Hanoi to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 31st anniversary of the country’s accession to the regional bloc, reaffirming its commitment to regional cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
The ceremony was attended by ambassadors and chargé d’affaires of ASEAN member states and partner countries, as well as representatives from Vietnam’s National Assembly, government agencies, and the Hanoi People’s Committee.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung described the ASEAN flag as a symbol of the region’s shared identity, solidarity, and common aspirations. He noted that this year’s celebration also coincides with the 81st anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution, underscoring the enduring values of independence, self-reliance, unity, and cooperation.
The foreign minister highlighted ASEAN’s remarkable transformation from a platform aimed at replacing division with dialogue into a dynamic regional community of peace, stability, and shared prosperity. He noted that the bloc now represents an economy valued at approximately US$3.9 trillion and a population of nearly 700 million people, making it one of the world’s most dynamic integrated markets.
Lê Hoài Trung said ASEAN is entering a new phase of development under the Philippines’ chairmanship and the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” while implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. He emphasized that the bloc has already made significant progress across its three key pillars of peace and security, economic prosperity, and people-centered development.
Outlining ASEAN’s future priorities, the minister stressed the importance of achieving tangible results, strengthening regional resilience, and ensuring readiness to adapt to emerging global challenges.
He said ASEAN must focus on delivering practical outcomes by transforming commitments into stronger trade, enhanced connectivity, improved employment opportunities, and better public services. He also emphasized that resilience remains central to safeguarding the bloc’s strategic autonomy and common interests, particularly as ASEAN marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia this year.
Highlighting the importance of readiness, Lê Hoài Trung called for greater investment in innovation, workforce development, and the responsible use of technology to enhance the region’s competitiveness and adaptability. He added that by strengthening trust, deepening cooperation, and developing regional solutions, ASEAN can play a greater role in shaping the regional order while maintaining peace and stability.
Reflecting on Vietnam’s 31 years of ASEAN membership, the foreign minister reaffirmed that ASEAN remains a strategic priority and a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy. He said Vietnam’s long-term development goals—including becoming a modern industrial nation by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045—are closely linked with the success of the ASEAN Community.
He stressed that a stronger ASEAN would create greater opportunities for Vietnam, while a stronger Vietnam would continue to make meaningful contributions to the bloc’s collective progress.
Concluding his remarks, Lê Hoài Trung called on ASEAN member states and partners to strengthen cooperation, embrace innovation, and work together to ensure that ASEAN remains a pillar of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.
