Vietnam hands over ASEAN Chairmanship to Brunei

The symbolic handover of the gavel took place at the closing ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings held in Hanoi on November 15.

Passing on the gavel to Brunei ambassador to Vietnam Pengiran Haji Sahari bin Pengiran Haji Salleh, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam that assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 expressed his belief that Brunei, as the next ASEAN chair, will continue to move ASEAN forward and forge an ASEAN Community endowed with a vision for broad connectivity, active adaptability, comprehensive recovery, and sustainable development.

Addressing the closing ceremony, PM Phuc noted ASEAN leaders adopted a wide range of decisive and concrete measures to beef up cooperation in responding to and overcoming challenges facing ASEAN, including the COVID-19 pandemic, maintain the trajectory of cooperation, and chart new courses for the ASEAN Community towards greater development, so it would truly become the nucleus of the region, with the people at its heart.

“We have shared our respective views on emerging regional and international issues. It is agreed that we must maintain and build upon ASEAN centrality, promote dialogue and cooperation, prevent conflicts, build confidence, and shape a regional architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based,” said Phuc.

During the 37th ASEAN Summit, regional leaders adopted the Mid-term Review of the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025, agreed on the necessity to review the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, and displayed their determination to promote subregional cooperation as an integral part of the ASEAN development process.

The Summit also adopted the Hanoi Declaration on the ASEAN Community's post-2025 Vision, laying a solid foundation for the ASEAN Community to move ahead.

To promote ASEAN’s rich identity, ASEAN leaders encouraged the hoisting of the ASEAN flag and the use of the ASEAN anthem in order to bring the ASEAN image closer to local people and the community as a whole.

On this occasion, the leaders adopted the Narrative of ASEAN Identity and the Hanoi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work towards Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community.

The summit saw many COVID-related initiatives be put forward and implemented, including the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies, and the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

The leaders also adopted the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan, designed for cohesion across the ASEAN Community's three pillars, which is expected to assist the people and businesses to cushion the impact of the pandemic and restore economic and social stability in their countries..

To expand and deepen relations with its partners, ASEAN agreed to expand the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation to include Cuba, Colombia and South Africa, bringing the total number of signatories to 43.

Notably, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement was signed by leaders of ASEAN and five partners namely Australia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand, at the 4th RCEP Summit on November 15.

PM Phuc described the conclusion of negotiation and official signing of the trade deal as a “very admirable expression” of the strong commitment and determination of the countries in the region in promoting economic liberalization and connectivity.

Leaders of ASEAN countries and partners such as the US, China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and others highly appreciated the leading role Vietnam has played in 2020 as the ASEAN Chair in coping with unprecedented challenges brought about the COVID-19 pandemic. They also acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in promoting safety and security in the South China Sea towards a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Brunei will host upcoming ASEAN Summits and related meetings during its ASEAN Chair 2021 on the theme of "We care, we prepare, we prosper".