(VOVworld) – Various activities have been held in Vietnam to mark the 45^th anniversary of ASEAN being founded. When addressing a meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday, Le Cong Phung, President of the Vietnam – ASEAN Friendship Association, said that over the past 45 years, ASEAN has done its utmost to boost cooperation in politics, security, and in drawing up legislation to improve mutual understanding and trust. The association has also set up wide ranging ties with several major partners around the world, and has successfully initiated and taken a leading role in many regional and inter-region cooperative frameworks. Phung said as an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam has made numerous important contributions to the bloc’s growth and capacity.

On behalf of ASEAN’s ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, Brunei’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Dato Mahadi Watli praised for Vietnam’s hosting the meeting, saying it was opportunity to tighten solidarity on the road to an ASEAN Community. He said 'Now we’re on the process of forming the ASEAN Community by 2015. The objective of the ASEAN Community is to enable the people of ASEAN to live in environment of peace, stability, and harmony. I believe all of us, the ASEAN member countries are working hard together to achieve the objective for a better ASEAN. And in this regards, I would like to comment Vietnam’s efforts in realizing the ASEAN Community as highlighted by the Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the occasion of the 45^th anniversary of ASEAN that Vietnam will take stronger actions seriously, fully deliver on its ASEAN commitment, actively and pro-actively join other ASEAN member countries in realizing the ASEAN Community by 2015'.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony to raise the ASEAN and national flags. The ASEAN flag symbolizes sustainable peace, solidarity, and dynamism. The 10 yellow stalks of rice refer to the 10 member nations expressing the bloc’s dream of friendship and solidarity. The white circle designates unity.