On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Laos had an interview with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumasay Kommasith about the contributions of Vietnam and Laos. in ASEAN, as well as what ASEAN must do to solve new challenges and issues to protect the central role of the bloc in the coming time.

Vietnam became a member of ASEAN in 1995, Laos joined 2 years later than Vietnam. Both Vietnam and Laos have joined as active members, making important contributions to ASEAN's policy making and vision. Since Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar joined ASEAN, we have contributed to a great change in the organization's original principles and purposes.

So far, 10 ASEAN countries have found a common voice, peaceful cooperation in the common house, mutual understanding and trust are increasingly consolidated. Those are the great contributions of Vietnam and Laos in the process of building the ASEAN community.

On the issue of building the ASEAN economic community, Vietnam is a big country in the region, plays an important role and has relationships with many countries, especially great powers, which is also a direct contribution to the ASEAN economic community. continue to play the important role of ASEAN for the region and the world.

ASEAN has an important geopolitical position, many countries in the world, including major powers, want to establish and strengthen cooperative relations with ASEAN through ASEAN mechanism and partnership and dialogue. Since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has gone through 3 times as the Chairman, while Laos has held the Chair 2 times and by 2024, the 3rd time.

Both Vietnam and Laos emphasized the central leadership role of ASEAN, which is the great contribution of our two countries, it is also the result of close cooperation between the two countries, from the expert level. to senior leadership. The initiatives of Vietnam and Laos have brought mutual benefits to ASEAN countries, and are important steps towards building a strong and united ASEAN community.

Deputy Prime Minister, in the coming time, how will ASEAN countries work together to solve emerging challenges and hot issues to protect ASEAN's central role?

ASEAN's greatest achievement to date has been peace and stability. This is due to mutual understanding, which lays the foundation for peace and stability for the Asia Pacific region as well as ASEAN. Before Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia joined ASEAN, countries in the region were still cautious and skeptical of each other. But since 10 countries gathered under the ASEAN roof, many problems have been solved. Countries and powers all want to establish and strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, which is a huge political achievement.

Economically, countries have helped and supported each other, making the gap between rich and poor in the region increasingly shortened, typically Vietnam's development has been on par with many countries in the region. In the region, the gap between the rich and the poor between Laos and other countries still exists, but has improved significantly. In this day and age, each country has a certain position and role, but if it is unified, forming a common view and stance will further enhance ASEAN's role in the international arena.

In fact, all organizations in the world have disagreements and challenges that need to be resolved together. On the ASEAN side, it is necessary to continue to maintain its central role and consensus position in solving challenges. Firstly, due to the direct impact of major powers, ASEAN countries must calculate and handle in such a way that they can overcome disagreements, ensure that ASEAN maintains good relations within the bloc, as well as regulate Adjusting relations with major powers does not allow any country in the region to be in a situation where they have to choose sides.

Vietnam and Laos have a very important role in this regard. Second, at present, in the region as well as in the world, many new problems have arisen and there are also different assessments and views, due to different political systems, but important issues need to be ensured for countries. ASEAN members jointly develop and maintain common core interests. Currently, there are many new models of cooperation proposed, countries want ASEAN to join, but the foundation is that we insist on the central role of ASEAN, members behave with each other sincerely, for the benefit. For common interests, surely, ASEAN will overcome all difficulties.