Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: VNA)

Head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, made the remarks during a seminar entitled “Vietnam and ASEAN’s 50 years of development” that opened in Hanoi on Friday. Southeast Asia has become more prosperous than ever with ASEAN playing a central role in maintaining regional peace. "ASEAN’s path in the next 50 years does not look easy, especially as the ASEAN Community was established only 3 years ago and is striving its best to promote  collective solidarity while ensuring the individual interests of each member country. This seminar is expected to give the participants an overview of ASEAN’s development in the past 50 years together with opportunities and challenges facing the bloc in seeking new directions for development. It’s also an important  preparatory step for Vietnam to assume ASEAN Chair in 2020," added Mr. Dung.