Vietnam supports Singapore as ASEAN Chair in 2018: Deputy Foreign Minister

ABO/NDO – Vietnam fully supports Singapore as chair of ASEAN in 2018 and will coordinate with the country, as well as other ASEAN members, to push forward priorities and initiatives of ASEAN this year for further progress in building the ASEAN Community, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung has said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the Deputy Foreign Minister talked to the press about Vietnam’s participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018.

Deputy FM Dung said at its milestone of the 50th founding anniversary, ASEAN needs to renew itself on the basis of achievements over the past half a century.

“In 2018, there is great expectation for ASEAN under the chair of Singapore, one of the most developed countries in the region,” he said, adding that Singapore is believed to be capable of leading ASEAN on the right track and making new breakthroughs.

The diplomat stressed that Singapore has set the theme for the year as Resilient and Innovative, towards the goals of promoting and maintaining a rule-based regional order in order to better respond to emerging security challenges, promote economic integration and enhance regional connectivity, thus turning ASEAN into a dynamic place for people to live, work and entertain.

According to the deputy FM, ASEAN countries support those initiatives as they suit the development level and requirements of ASEAN.

Deputy FM Dung noted that Vietnam will take up the role as chair of ASEAN in 2020, following Thailand in 2019. One advantage for Vietnam is that the country can make use of the impetus created in the previous terms of Singapore and Thailand, he said, adding that at the same time, Vietnam will face pressure from great expectations.

Therefore, in order to fulfill the role of ASEAN Chair, Vietnam should make careful preparations well in advance.

“We have had a firm foundation in the ASEAN, and we will do our utmost to succeed in our term as ASEAN Chair, thus helping ASEAN make further strides forward while enhancing our position,” Deputy FM Dung said.

(Source: NDO)