Hanoi Marks ASEAN's 59th Anniversary With Flag-Hoisting Ceremony
HANOI, July 31 (Bernama-VNA) -- An ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony took place in Hanoi on Friday to mark the bloc's 59th anniversary and the 31st anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
The event was attended by ambassadors and chargés d'affaires of ASEAN member states and partner countries, along with officials from the National Assembly, government agencies and the Hanoi People's Committee.
In his speech, Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung hailed the ASEAN flag as a symbol of shared identity, solidarity and common aspiration. He said this year's event carried added significance as it coincides with Vietnam's 81st August Revolution anniversary (Aug. 19, 1945–2026), reinforcing the enduring values of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and cooperation.
He said ASEAN has grown from a historic decision to replace division with dialogue and confrontation with cooperation into a community of peace, progress and shared prosperity, with an economy worth US$3.9 trillion and a population of nearly 700 million. It is emerging as a dynamic single market powered by integration, innovation, connectivity and competitiveness.
Facing a world of intensifying competition and volatility, ASEAN is entering a new era that demands stronger collective effort under the Philippines' chairmanship and the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together", Trung said, noting that the grouping has made headway in the first year of implementing the Community Vision 2045 across its three pillars of peace and security, prosperity and empowering people.
Marking 31 years since Vietnam joined ASEAN, Trung affirmed that the bloc is not only a strategic priority and a central pillar of Vietnam's foreign policy, but also a common home and an inseparable part of the country's global integration.
A strong ASEAN will create greater opportunities for Vietnam, while a strong Vietnam will make more meaningful contributions to the ASEAN Community, he said, adding that Vietnam will continue to grow together with ASEAN and contribute to the shared vision of a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN Community.
On the occasion, Trung called on countries to continue fostering partnerships, embrace innovation and work together to ensure that ASEAN remains a steadfast anchor for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
-- BERNAMA-VNA
