Delegates at the event (Photo: vov.vn)
Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan highlighted some of the key achievements during the development of ASEAN. Since its founding in 1967, ASEAN has been striving to build a peaceful, stable environment for growth and prosperity in the region. The ASEAN Community, establishment in 2015, is a milestone in the bloc’s development process. ASEAN has established relationships with 10 major partners in the world, including the US, Russia, the EU, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
ASEAN has become one of the most successful regional cooperation models, and is seen as a driving force of the economy in Asia and the world. Currently ASEAN is the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest one in the world, with GDP of nearly USD3,000 billion, and its economic growth rate is about 4.7% per year.
He affirmed that ASEAN cooperation is one of the top priorities in Vietnam's foreign policy. Since its accession in 1995, Vietnam has actively participated in and contributed to the process of building the ASEAN Community, as well as promoting the integration of the bloc.
The Ambassador also appreciated the role and contributions of the ASEAN Committee in Prague (ACP) in promoting the image of the association, strengthening the relations with the Czech government and people, as well as international organizations in the country.
Previously, the 13th session of ACP took place in the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy. The ambassadors, representatives of the five countries and subcommittees reviewed activities in the first half of the year, as well as discussing activities in the last six months of the year. At the meeting, the Thai Ambassador officially handed over the ACP alternate chairmanship to the Vietnamese Ambassador.
Mr. Ho Minh Tuan emphasized that Vietnam took the chairmanship of the committee in an important period. As chairman, the Ambassador will work to strengthen solidarity among ACP member countries and promote relations between ASEAN and the Czech Republic, Czech authorities and people./.