Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Vietnam’s high ranking delegation have successfully concluded the working visit to the 14th ASEAN Summit themed ‘ASEAN Charter for ASEAN Peoples’. The Prime Minister gave the press an interview about the ASEAN nations’ activities to enhance the regional trade and economic cooperation to build a strong ASEAN.
How can ASEAN cope with the global financial crisis, Prime Minister?
The crisis this time is largely different from that of 1997 in both nature and impact. Therefore it requires greater efforts of each nation and better cooperation of the region and the whole world. It is the main concern of the leaders of ASEAN and the region. At ASEM-7 in Beijing last October, leaders of ASEAN and ASEAN+3 have discussed the global financial crisis and decided to increase cooperation to prevent adverse impacts on the economies of the region and expand cooperation inside and outside ASEAN.
At the 14th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders have considered the Report of ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers on “Plan of Action to restore Asian financial-economic stability” with four main solution packages: (i) national proactive macro-economic solution; (ii) Chieng Mai multilateral initiative promoted as supporting instrument for payment balance; (iii) developing capital market by Asian Bond Market; (iv) encouraging the role of multilateral development banks to restrain crisis impact.
Besides the solution package, I believe that ASEAN countries should increase the confidence of the market and investors and share information and experience to cope with the crisis, especially honouring commitments on economic and trade cooperation and bilateral investments to boost economic growth of member countries.
How will ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and bilateral free trade agreements between ASEAN members and partners help ASEAN economies in the global financial crisis?
ASEAN has traveled a long journey of stable economic development and is implementing the plan of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) approved in Singapore in November 2007. AEC will promote growth in each member as well as economic cooperation and strength of ASEAN, and help ASEAN economies surmount the current global financial crisis.
In the present conditions, AFTA and bilateral free trade agreements will play an important role in promoting two-way trade, increasing ASEAN export, attracting more foreign investments, maintaining and boosting economic growth in the region and in each member country.
ASEAN economic-trade cooperation with big economic-trade powers is most helpful, creating a new strength and position for each member and ASEAN as a whole.
I believe that the promotion of trade, investment, financial-monetary cooperation inside and outside ASEAN with ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS will help ASEAN overcome the difficulties of the world financial-economic crisis.
How important is ASEAN Charter to a stable ASEAN community?
ASEAN Charter is a big event, a turning point in the development of ASEAN. It serves as a strong legal framework for ASEAN cooperation and efficiency, a manifest of lofty objectives pursued by ASEAN members for peace and stability in the region, of favourable business environment and social welfare for the population.
ASEAN Charter will promote the building of the ASEAN community with three pillars: Political security, Economy and Cultural-Social community. It will promote cooperation, integration and unity among ASEAN countries. The Charter also tends to re-organize the management mechanism to implement more effectively its programmes and objectives. Therefore, the full implementation of the Charter will bring about essential benefit for ASEAN members and people.
In fact, the theme of the 14th ASEAN Summit is “ASEAN Charter for ASEAN peoples”. ASEAN leaders will discuss the orientation and measures to implement ASEAN Charter and make ASEAN cooperation more vital to the people.
As ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is expected to be established in 2015, what are the pillars of AEC?
The commitment to establish AEC in 2015 not only represents the ASEAN vision but also the natural development of ASEAN in the past four decades, the resolve of member countries for fuller integration to create an ASEAN community with strength, harmony, peace, stability, cooperation for development and prosperity.
To this end, in line with the Charter, ASEAN has worked out a road map to 2015 for three pillars: Political security, economy and cultural-social community. It is also the confidence-building process between nations to secure favourable environment for peace, stability and development, at the same time broaden cooperation with other partners especially big powers to gain more support for ASEAN efforts.
How is the role of Vietnam in ASEAN ever since its accession in 1995?
The main feature and guideline of ASEAN is “unity of diversity.” ASEAN comprises of nations in the region with different historical, cultural, political, economic and social backgrounds but fight for the common goal of a South East Asia of peace, stability and development. Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, followed by Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia making a 10-nation strong ASEAN. Unity and consensus have ensured the vitality and development of ASEAN. Each achievement and progress of ASEAN is the common efforts of all member countries.
Ever since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has made every effort to contribute to the unity and development of ASEAN. It is also precisely the time that Vietnam renovated and recorded brilliant achievements in all fields with economic growth rates of 7.5-8 percent for the past 20 years. Vietnam has developed cooperation and relations with over 180 countries and partners in all continents, participated actively in international and regional organizations including UN, WTO, APEC, ASEM, etc. It shows that Vietnam is a dynamic developing country and a reliable partner of all nations for peace, stability and development.
Thu Huyen-Khac Kien (Source: Bangkok Post)
Vietnamese
