In Vietnam, we can see the benefits that the community pillars in ASEAN and the region’s development model bring. ASEAN has supported and contributed to creating Vietnam’s impressive economic growth and development, while also contributing to stability and security in the region, which is the foundation for that growth.
How does the Ambassador evaluate Vietnam’s efforts in ASEAN and ASEAN’s role in promoting ASEAN’s relations with partners?
We see that Vietnam is contributing to solving key issues facing ASEAN, both in terms of socio-economic development, as well as addressing broader issues around peace and security. area security.
As an ASEAN member, Vietnam shows its responsibility in finding answers to those questions, whether surrounding issues such as maritime security, the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) or resolve the Myanmar issue.
Those are areas where Vietnam is playing an active role. We appreciate that and look forward to cooperating with Vietnam in the future, in the way that Vietnam and its ASEAN partners address these challenges.
Regarding the East Sea issue, how does the Ambassador evaluate ASEAN’s efforts as well as the prospects for the COC in the coming time?
The task of ASEAN countries is to determine the pace and destination of COC negotiations. It is important that any agreed code of conduct adheres to the principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). This is also Vietnam’s clear viewpoint, contributing to peace, stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The principles of freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes based on negotiation are very important to us, and are the basis for moving forward together.
How do you evaluate ASEAN’s strategic balance efforts in the region?
I think that ASEAN has a clear message and strategy. ASEAN’s central role means that before each regional issue, ASEAN takes its stance and voice first. This principle is very important and the UK strongly supports it. This principle helps ASEAN approach policies with external partners in its own way.
ASEAN’s policy approach also allows the Association space to make decisions in addressing development, peace and security issues, helping ASEAN effectively resolve all geopolitical tensions. .
ASEAN supports those policy positions of ASEAN. The UK is committed to cooperating with ASEAN on maritime security, economic recovery efforts, supply chain security… It is important that we all strive to solve the problem in a spirit of cooperation and is not interrupted by geopolitical instability.
As a regional organization, ASEAN has a population of nearly 700 million people with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. That creates a geopolitical and geo-economic “weight”, meaning that ASEAN’s voice is very important, in international forums about future security or economic agreements.
ASEAN has its own view of its future, but it is also an important part of the world, important to all of us. We want to strengthen our connection with ASEAN so that we can solve all the problems together.
Sincerely thank you Ambassador!