Vietnam: role and ambitions in ASEAN

What will Vietnam's role in ASEAN be? What are its growth prospects?

The 18th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an economic organization aimed at the economic, social and cultural development and growth of its member states (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos), held in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 5-8, 2011, confirmed the important role Vietnam plays in the association.

On this occasion, member state delegations discussed the three priorities set in the agenda that relate to the consolidation of the already significant growth process experienced by the regional macro-area. In addition to strengthening the structural conditions necessary to continue on the path of economic development and social welfare, the member states defined further implementation of measures in order to accelerate the process that should lead ASEAN by 2015 to become a full-fledged Community, with more flexible political-economic measures and greater regional integration. Last key point, designing a common vision of the Asean Community after 2015, considering its role in the global arena and the new scenarios of the international environment. The leaders of the Asean countries then expressed points of convergence regarding the international role and status to be played by the organization itself in the coming years.

The Vietnamese delegation, composed of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, expressed their satisfaction on the outcome of the summit, which was considered a great success by all participants. Phan Binh Minh, in addition to highlighting the tremendous progress made by Asean since its establishment 43 years ago and highlighting its role as an increasingly dynamic organization that is more and more open and integrated in trade, political and economic relations in the global scenario, expressed his views on Vietnam's role and responsibilities within the macro-area, including its future perspective.

Vietnam intends to assume a major role and is among the leading countries in the Community, along with Indonesia. Specifically, Prime Minister Dung himself made it clear that in order for ASEAN to become a major player on the world stage, it will be necessary to ensure that the same principles that have contributed to Vietnam's growth are assimilated even more strongly by the Community. A foreign policy aimed at greater independence and autonomy, closer cooperation that aims at rapid development capable of keeping pace with internationalization processes, and accentuated multilateralism that allows for stronger and more active participation in the process of international integration represent the keystones on which to base its economic and diplomatic action. Precisely to implement the project, Vietnam has taken the lead, along with other member states, on a road map setting out what are considered the cornerstones of the future Asean Community. The three pillars concern the management of security policy, the economy, and socio-cultural aspects: the ASEAN, through more effective forms of coordination, will have to be able to operate at both the national and regional levels, and above all, it will have to be able to overcome divisions and bridge the gap between different member states.

There is no shortage of disputes. In addition to the territorial disputes between Cambodia and Thailand and the complex political situation in Myanmar, there has been the issue of the exploitation of the Mekong River, which has created ill-feeling and diplomatic rifts between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand on the one hand, and Laos (which wants to break free from the dependency regime of the strongest regional economies, Vietnam and Thailand) and China (which has long had its hands on the resources of the poorest country in Asean) on the other.

Vietnam, in this regard, has shown political maturity. During the Summit, it stressed the importance of greater cooperation with China, hoping for an early resolution of the Mekong River dispute, and to remedy these disagreements, Prime Minister Dung met last June 6 with the head of the Lao Government Secretariat, Cheuang Sombounkhan, in order to succeed in overcoming the dispute, to preserve and promote the bilateral relations of traditional friendship that have always distinguished the two countries. Today's world looks at this area and Vietnam differently.

Obama's focus on ASEAN is certainly not comparable to the lack of interest shown by George W. Bush. For this reason, too, the Asean Community will have to overcome regional divisions and create conditions conducive to maintaining peace, stability, security and development.

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