Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son addresses the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

The virtual ceremony was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son drawing ambassadors and representatives from nine embassies of ASEAN member countries in Hanoi.
The annual event aims to honour the association’s common values and commitments to promote solidarity, friendship and cooperation under the common house of ASEAN Community.
In his address, Minister Son highlighted ASEAN's great achievements saying they are attributed to the close cooperation of people from ASEAN member countries.
Underlining adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Son lauded ASEAN’s stronger response and creativity in dealing with the pandemic, evidently through the prompt and timely implementation of initiatives such as the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, which has received more than 20 million USD, and the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies, thus becoming ready to support needy areas, along with economic measures to avoid the disruption of supply chains and form a safe travel corridor.