Vietnam has actively introduced a number of important initiatives and led efforts that continue to enrich the ASEAN agenda and experience.

2020 was an eventful year for Vietnam’s defence external affairs sector as the country successfully organised the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and the 7th ADMM Plus. 

2020 was an important milestone in ASEAN’s development with the prominent role of Vietnam as chair. 

Images of Vietnam’s flag flying at the Army Games 2020, UN peacekeeping operations, and ASEAN meetings over the years prove the significant role of defence diplomacy in improving the prestige and position of Vietnam in the international arena.

Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has officially concluded, with the country successfully leading the association through a challenging year and continuing to promote its role in the region and seize new opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a long shadow and created uncertainty over the global economy. 

Vietnam has been very successful in connecting ASEAN with the UN Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the UN, said.

Vietnam successfully accomplished its role as ASEAN Chair 2020 in the context of COVID-19’s impact being beyond imagination, the Director of the Vietnam Economic Research Institute (VERI), Hiroyuki Moribe, has said.

The US has intensified its interactions with ASEAN this year partly because Vietnam has been assuming ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, said Prof. Pankaj Jha from India’s O.P. Jindal Global University in his article published recently on modernpolicy.eu.

Vietnam has performed well its role taking on the position of ASEAN Chair 2020 with the culture industry greatly contributing to overall success. Here are some of the cultural imprints that the country has made this year.

Vietnam and the EU have experienced fruitful cooperation in various sectors over the course of the last three decades, 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 17 hosted an international seminar to look back on the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 of Vietnam under the chair of Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

An exhibition featuring photos and documentary films about the ASEAN Community is taking place in the southern province of Binh Phuoc from December 15.

Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to ASEAN, highlighted the country’s outstanding achievements during its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship in a recent interview with VNA.

The countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are set to benefit from a wide-ranging deal that will entice investors towards the region.

Along with the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, ASEAN as chaired by Vietnam is calling for more intra-investment and foreign direct investment into the region, in an aim to make the bloc more affluent,

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that Vietnam supports the official upgrade of ASEAN - European Union ties to the strategic partnership level.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) agreed to elevate their relationship to “Strategic Partnership” during the 23rd ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) held on December 1 via videoconference.

The online ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) was officially launched on November 30 to accelerate trade in goods by road within Southeast Asia.

The 31st Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN 31) and related meetings have begun via videoconference to discuss environmental sustainability.