(VOVworld) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is attending the 25th ASEAN summit and related meetings in Naypitaw, Myanmar at the invitation of Myanmar’s President Thein Sein. The summit on November 12-13 is important because ASEAN is in the final stages of building an ASEAN community.
The 25th ASEAN summit will set the direction for ASEAN in the post-2015 development period. ASEAN leaders will discuss a roadmap and orientations for post-2015 period, and devise ways to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and its partners – China, Japan, India, the US, and the UN – and other groups like ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit. Marine safety and security, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea will continue to be a key topic at the 25th ASEAN summit.
A united, strong community
ASEAN is scheduled to announce the formation of the ASEAN community on December 31, 2015. About 80% of the ASEAN community formation roadmap, which includes 800 tasks, has been completed. The politics-security pillar is 85% complete, economics 81%, and culture-society 97%.
The ASEAN community will be a milestone for ASEAN but the post-2015 vision is equally important. ASEAN leaders will continue to pursue current targets, which include halving the poverty rate, doubling GDP, and promoting ASEAN’s role in an increasingly complicated world.
In order to enhance connectivity and cooperation, ASEAN has focused on improving its organizational apparatus. The Special Coordinating Committee of ASEAN will submit its recommendations for strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and other agencies.
Vietnam continues to contribute to ASEAN values
Over the past 19 years, Vietnam has deeply engaged in ASEAN activities and together with other members has ensured the bloc’s unity and active role in resolving complex issues in line with international law.
In the new development period, Vietnam will uphold its policy of actively and responsibly sharing opinions and participating in ASEAN cooperation and resolving challenges to strengthen the bloc’s status.
Vietnam will proactively work for ASEAN unity and solidarity, promote the bloc’s prestige in the regional structure, boost the formation of an ASEAN community by 2015, and stay involved in regional issues.