Vietnam assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2020 in the context of complicated developments both regionally and globally, due to increasing strategic competition between major countries and the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic, which had seriously affected the socio-economic situation around the world, including those of ASEAN member countries. However, with its effort, flexibility and responsibility, Vietnam has fulfilled its coordinating role, meeting the expectations of fellow member countries.
Vietnam leads ASEAN to cooperateinhandling the pandemic and overcoming its consequences.
Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has worked with other countries to develop the theme ofa "Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN" to promote theCommunity building process and ASEAN's role in anever-changing world. The sudden outbreak and the unprecedented consequencesof the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate that this theme and motto are well-suited to the situation that the region is experiencing.
Vietnam has also shown a prompt and timely response by proactively leading ASEAN to cooperate within the bloc and with partner countries to control the spread of the disease, while minimizing the impact on the economy and the society. Vietnam issued an early "Chairman's Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019" (Feb 14); Vietnam’s initiatives include the establishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund anda regional Reserve of emergency medical supplies; the creation of standards for disease response; the formation of a master plan for post-COVID-19 recovery, etc.have all been agreed to by ASEAN countries and become the common initiatives of ASEAN.
With regards to the complicated developments of the pandemic, Vietnam has been very flexible in organizing online summits with leaders of partner countries such as Russia, the US, South Korea, Japan, Australia, most notably through the ASEAN +3 Special Summit, the Special Foreign Ministers Meeting between ASEAN & China, ASEAN & the US, ASEAN & Russia, and ASEAN & Australia; promoting discussion through the "ASEAN-Republic of Korea Economic Ministers’ Joint Initiatives on Bolstering the Economic Connectivity between ASEAN-Republic of Korea in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak," etc.
Despite having to focus a lot of resources on handling the epidemic, ASEAN, under Vietnam’s coordination, continued to implement the plans and initiatives proposed from the beginning of the year. Of which, the two initiatives "Building ASEAN Digital Integration Indicator" and "Connecting ASEAN Innovation Centers" that Vietnam launched were completed by the time of the Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers, while the remaining initiatives continue to be consulted and rapidly implemented by Vietnam, and are expected to be completed within 2020, according to plan.
Vietnam has also made an effort to organize Ministerial, Departmental and Working Group conferences to maintain the smooth function of the ASEAN economic cooperation framework; promote trade and investment activities; proactively propose and participate in regional initiatives to ensure regional and global production and supply chains for economic recovery and development after the pandemic.
Assessing the ASEAN cooperation progress in the first 6 months of the year, the ASEAN Coordinating Council acknowledged Vietnam's efforts to bring the Community to overcome challenges, maintain cooperation, and completely and genuinely implement the proposed initiatives and priorities for ASEAN 2020.
Vietnam promotes the construction of a cohesive ASEAN Community, and consolidates the central role of ASEAN.
In addition to the short-term global socio-economic impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic also impacts the security of the Indo-Pacific region (including Southeast Asia), most importantlythe increasing regional competition between the US and China, especially the issue of sovereignty and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which has strong repercussions on the geopolitical environment in the long term.
Faced with the increasing strategic competition between major countries in Southeast Asia, as the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has adroitly brought hot issues in the fields of security and politics into discussion,utilizing the opportunity to not only express ASEAN's point of view, but also remain flexible in trying to maintain a balanced relationship with major countries so as not to be stuck in a situation of having to choose sides in a war for influence.
Specifically, at the online 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Sep 9-12), Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have released a Joint Communique, in which they updated on the issue of tensions in the South China Sea, restated theiropinions and wishes that ASEAN and China will soon reach a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) as the basis for the parties to settle disputes.
Through that, Vietnam and ASEAN countries have shown solidarity and consensus on primary and core issues; demonstrated the central role of preserving the independence and neutrality of ASEAN.
Assessing Vietnam's role as Chairman, Mr. Jonathan Berkshire Miller,Director at the Council on International Policy and Distinguished Fellow with the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, commented: “Vietnam's principled and resolved leadership has made progress in settling thorny issues related to the East Sea.” It can be said that the 2020 ASEAN Chair country was very skillful in solving the most important and sensitive issue in the region.
The Korean Government highly appreciates Vietnam's role as the2020 ASEAN Chair, and looks forward to Vietnam’s bridging role in promoting South Korea-ASEAN cooperation.
Since coming to power, President Moon Jae In has highly appreciated Vietnam's role in ASEAN, declaring that: “Our relations with ASEAN are indispensable for our prosperity and peace, and Vietnam is at the center of that relationship”.
On the occasion of Vietnam's assumption of its role as the 2020 ASEAN Chair, South Korea has actively supported Vietnam to fulfill its responsibilities. Following that, with the coordinating role in the relations between the trio ofSouth Korea - China - Japan and ASEAN in 2020, Korea has actively supported Vietnam to successfully organize the High-Level Interagency Video Conference on Cooperation to Counter COVID-19 in April 2020.
During her visit to Vietnam in September, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Hwa commended Vietnam for its role as the ASEAN Chair despite the many difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency in Seoul, the Secretary General of the Korea-ASEAN Center, Mr. Lee Hyuk, also acknowledged Vietnam's effectiveefforts to assume the role of ASEAN Chair, consolidate unity and promote intra-regional cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
For a quarter of a century of cooperation with ASEAN, Vietnam has always been a responsible member, playing a very active role in building a community with many constructive and highly achievable initiatives. Therefore, South Korea needs to continue to strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam to reinforce the prosperity of the cordial Vietnam-Korea relations, and at the same time further expand relations with ASEAN through Vietnam.
