(VOVworld) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a flag hoisting ceremony in Hanoi on Monday to mark the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)’s 49th founding anniversary and 21 years since Vietnam joined the bloc.
Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam, Head of the Vietnamese Permanent Representative delegation to ASEAN, said Vietnam has always been a responsible member of ASEAN and made great contribution to making policies as well as implementing ASEAN’s cooperative agreements. He said since the establishment of the ASEAN Community by the end of 2015, ASEAN has implemented ASEAN Community Blueprint till 2025, which saw great contribution by Vietnam. 2016 is the first year to implement the ASEAN Vision 2025 together with the Community’s plans on 3 pillars, including politics-security, economy, and culture-society.
ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967. Vietnam became a member of the grouping on July 28, 1995. The flag raising ceremony on ASEAN’s foundation day is an annual event in all member nations and the ASEAN Secretariat, aiming to honor common values and promote solidarity, amity and cooperation in the bloc.