Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam is committed, along with othermember countries, to build a united and self-reliant ASEAN Community, saidPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the 50th founding anniversary of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today.

Delivering a speech on August 7, which also marks the 22nd year ofVietnam’s entry into the group, the PM said that "Vietnam and membercountries would accelerate internal trade and investment, develop infrastructure,and narrow development gaps; effectively co-operate to serve the people,improve people’s living standards, ensure social welfare, and promote the prideof the Community; build an ASEAN Community based on law, especially fundamentalprinciples of international relationships; and improve the efficiency ofpartnerships, maintain a central role in the region, and uphold commonviewpoints on regional and international issues."

PM Phuc said the 21st century had posed opportunities andchallenges for ASEAN in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 which callsfor “a law-based ASEAN Community, serving the people and considering the peopleas central”.

“ASEAN is implementing renewals and adjusting the bloc in a moreflexible and efficient manner, and more importantly the association continuesto maintain the solidarity built up over the past half century,” he said.

Becoming an official member of ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam is proud tohave contributed to ASEAN. In that time, Vietnam’s achievements have grownalong the growth of the group, he said.

The ten-member ASEAN has become more and more strong politically,and has enjoyed steady economic development, with institutions increasinglycomplete and relations closely linked, PM Phuc said.

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“Through historical upheavals, ASEAN has turned Southeast Asiafrom confrontation to dialogue, from suspicion to cooperation, from divisionto solidarity with the highlight the establishment of the ASEAN Community,” thePM said.

“A peaceful, secured, stable and developed Southeast Asia is ahighlight on a world map with instability. The ASEAN Community is ranked thesixth in the world with GDP reaching nearly 3,000 billion USD annually.”

“Also, ASEAN is a combination of diverse cultures, rich inidentity and has solidarity among peoples living in peace, with secured socialwelfare and improved living standards.”

“In its external affairs, including with world powers, ASEAN isproactive in dialogue and cooperation, and is a force leading other regionalmechanisms and forums.”

ASEAN always takes the lead and works with other partners in allissues from climate change, terrorism fighting to peace and stability in theEast Sea, among others, which helps raise the international status of the wholeassociation and each member country,” the PM said.

Today, ASEAN people will celebrate the anniversary of the firstfive members founding the association fifty years ago.

On the occasion of the ASEAN golden anniversary, the PM wished allmember countries and ASEAN citizens would build a united community, developingfor peace and prosperity.-VNA