Deputy Labour Minister Le Quan speaks at a conference was held in Hanoi yesterday by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to prepare for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chair Year 2020. — Photo vneconomy.vn

According to Deputy Labour Minister Le Quan who spoke at the conference this is an important time for Vietnam when the Government and all ministries are focused on preparing for a special year next year.

“It is going to be a fundamental year for the ASEAN community when it will be conducting a mid-term review of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, with all concerned agencies evaluating their efforts from the previous stages and planning for the next ones in order to reach the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,” he said.

Quan urged concerned ministries to come up with their own roadmaps and initiatives, and collaborate with the labour ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to achieve the goals of the ASEAN Chair Year.

He expressed his hope that the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN and officials of the Secretariat will support Vietnam in its role as the community’s chair.

Congratulating Vietnam on assuming the position, ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi said: “The stability and sustainability of ASEAN over the last 50 years have created a foundation for dialogues, tackling common concerns, and establishing trust.

“Human security is considered an essential factor which will ensure ASEAN’s freedom to grow, hence, the need for collaboration within the community is stronger than ever.”

The official expressed his hope that Vietnam will play an active role in implementing action plans of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and create more cooperation opportunities in the region, adding that the ASEAN Secretariat is willing to support the country’s activities as the community’s chair.

Officials also discussed key priorities of ASEAN in 2020 at the conference, with human resources development with an adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution among the most essential. — VNS

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