(Photo: AFP/VNA)

(VOVworld) – Vietnam and ASEAN members gathered in Hanoi on Tuesday to discuss directions for the ASEAN community after 2015. The conference is part of a project to improve Vietnam’s international integration capacity by 2020.

In his address, the ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh praised Vietnam’s contributions since it joined the group in 1995. He said Vietnam could continue its active role in the bloc’s agenda after 2015 with the focus on education – a key in the country’s development strategy. Minh affirmed that education played a vital role in narrowing the gap among ASEAN members and between ASEAN and its partners. Young and qualified human resources are an attractive factor in luring international investors to the region. Minh called on Vietnam to increase public awareness, especially among young people, students, and pupils towards the community.

Participants at the 2-day meeting will talk about the process to build the ASEAN community and major directions after 2015, the ASEAN economic community and its prospects after 2015, the ASEAN cultural and social community, and ASEAN political and security community and development directions from 2015.