Vietnamese Delegation Attends ASEAN Economic Integration High-Level Dialogue

At the conference, the ASEAN Secretariat representative stated that the bloc has achieved significant economic milestones in recent years. The year 2024 will serve as a pivotal period to establish a long-term strategy for the bloc's vision beyond 2025, aiming to reshape ASEAN as a globally influential and competitive entity.

ASEAN parliamentary representatives highlighted that the post-2025 vision will bring both opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for ASEAN countries to enhance cooperation in various sectors, improve production capabilities, foster a high-quality workforce, and jointly develop a green and circular economy.

At the dialogue, ASEAN parliamentarians exchanged views on developing the economic components of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, focusing on two main areas: evaluating and reflecting on the successes and challenges in implementing the ASEAN Economic Community 2025 master plan; building an action-oriented, sustainable, adaptable, and inclusive ASEAN.

Standing Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Thai Quynh Mai Dung and Standing Member of the Economic Committee Pham Thi Hong Yen participated in the dialogue virtually from the headquarters of the National Assembly's offices.

On behalf of the Vietnamese National Assembly Delegation, Standing Member of the Economic Committee Pham Thi Hong Yen emphasized that despite the challenging global economic landscape, ASEAN stands out as a beacon of optimism for the future. It is a hub of free trade agreement (FTA) networks and a center for vital regional cooperation mechanisms such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, and the East Asia Summit (EAS). ASEAN has never enjoyed such a strong position, demonstrating a spirit of self-reliance, resilience, cohesion, and proactive adaptation. It is united and ready to cooperate and engage in dialogue under the rule of law. The region's economic growth momentum remains strong, with projections of 4.6% growth in 2023 and 4.9% in 2024. ASEAN trade has shown impressive growth of nearly 15%, reaching $3.8 trillion, while investment has hit a record high of over $224 billion. However, the regional economy still faces risks and direct impacts from geopolitical tensions, climate change, energy security, and food security.

ASEAN has strived to assert its central role as a key player in creating, shaping, and leading security cooperation and regional order structures. The trends of the era demand that ASEAN innovate in thinking, act creatively, and break new ground to fully capitalize on new economic growth drivers such as the digital economy, blue ocean economy, green transition, and sustainable development. The ASEAN Community Vision 2045, with its overarching directions, aims to build a resilient, dynamic, creative, and people-centered ASEAN, establishing a strategic framework for stronger development and breakthroughs over the next 20 years, and this is being duly acknowledged.

Standing Member of the Economic Committee Pham Thi Hong Yen stated at the dialogue

Standing Member of the Economic Committee Pham Thi Hong Yen stated that "six core elements have been agreed upon as the foundation for building the ASEAN Vision. These elements include action-oriented; sustainable; bold, daring, and innovative; adaptive and proactive, agile, and resilient; inclusive, participatory, and collaborative. Therefore, it is essential to establish a clear new agenda that fosters economic integration and adapts to technological advancements, geopolitical changes, and economic transformations that are reshaping the current global order."

In this process, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and its member parliaments have played an extremely important role by representing the voice of the state, political parties, and the people of the member countries. AIPA's contributions have been clearly demonstrated throughout its development and have gained increasing international prestige.

Standing Member of the Economic Committee Pham Thi Hong Yen emphasized that as a responsible member, Vietnam will do its utmost, alongside ASEAN countries and AIPA member parliaments, to build a strong ASEAN and a robust AIPA. Furthermore, Vietnam will proactively adapt and "turn challenges into opportunities," aiming towards a stable, prosperous, and sustainable ASEAN community.

The Dialogue Session Was Held Virtually

To build an action-oriented, sustainable, adaptable, and inclusive ASEAN, the Standing Member of the Economic Committee put forward several proposals. 

First, enhance solidarity and promote ASEAN's central role and strategic value. Leverage support from partners and the international community to ensure a peaceful, secure, and stable regional environment. Uphold the principles of independence and autonomy, maintaining consensus with ASEAN's common positions and viewpoints according to the "ASEAN way." Persistently pursue peace as a goal, dialogue as a tool, and cooperation as a means to resolve disputes in the spirit of upholding the law, in accordance with common rules, codes of conduct, and international law.

Second, strengthen and expand intra-regional cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, people-to-people exchange, technology transfer, and financial and monetary cooperation, as well as cooperation in safe and sustainable digital transformation and fair energy transition. Simultaneously, enhance ASEAN's relations with partners to bridge the development gap and effectively address non-traditional security challenges such as pandemics, natural disasters, cybercrime, and transnational crime. Promote sub-regional cooperation to ensure inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Third, national parliaments should continue to enhance their legislative role, creating a favorable legal framework and strengthening their oversight of ASEAN governments' successful implementation of the ASEAN Community 2025 master plans across the three main pillars: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural, while aiming toward a post-2025 vision.

Fourth, AIPA must continue to innovate, becoming an effective parliamentary cooperation channel, ensuring good coordination between the parliamentary and governmental channels of member states. Continue to emphasize strengthening relations with AIPA's observer partners to create "collective strength" to address the challenges facing the region.

Fifth, increase the exchange, development, and implementation of resolutions that help ASEAN leverage its advantages in science, technology, and innovation for economic recovery and development, and fully exploit its potential in agriculture, food, and forestry sectors.