Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on January 21 led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the online ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) at the invitation of Foreign Minister of Brunei Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof.

Vietnam is no different from other countries in dealing with unprecedented situations. Challenges are many, but we have been very proactive and resilient, and have continued to integrate strongly.

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. 

The ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has contributed to effectively implementing the Party’s foreign policy, raising Vietnam’s role and position and helping the country create a firm stance in ASEAN and the region.

Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and made significant contributions to the region, according to Hoang Thi Ha, an expert from the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute of Singapore.

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.

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 successfully fulfilled its commitments and responsibilities in the UN Security Council during the first year of its two-year term as a non-permanent member, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, has said.

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO, and other international organisations, in its capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG), organised an online meeting of the committee on December 14.

The ASEAN Week 2020, with a series of cultural, scientific and educational events, concluded on December 11, helping to strengthen ASEAN-Russia exchanges and cooperation.

With the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, Vietnam is not only an active ASEAN member but also a strong, trustworthy and special mainstay, 

Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dato Lim Jock Hoi has commended Vietnam’s exemplary role as the Chair of ASEAN in a year full of challenges.

The Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN held a virtual meeting on December 7 to summarise activities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee in New York this year and handed over its current chairmanship to Brunei.

The 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the seventh ADMM Plus will be held online from December 9-10.

The 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC 14) was held via videoconference on November 26 under the chair of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

Assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020 in a challenging and difficult context, Vietnam has successfully completed its task, confidently entering the sixth decade with ASEAN.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An chaired a press conference in Hanoi on November 20 to inform about major contents of the joint statement of the 38th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).

ASEAN has been going through this year difficulties in a cohesive and responsive manner largely thanks to Vietnam’s leadership.