Sydney (VNA) – Over the past 28 years since Vietnam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a constructive and responsible approach has consolidated Vietnam’s position in the bloc, said Dr.Nguyen Hong Hai, a lecturer of the Queensland University of Technology’s School ofJustice.

Hai, who is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of Policy and Politics atthe School of Justice's Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, saidthat since 1995, Vietnam's position, role, voice and even influence in ASEANhave been increasing.

He attributed this to Vietnam's geostrategic position in theregion, its strength and development over nearly 40 years of Doi moi (renewal),its foreign policy, its constructive and responsible approach, and its compliancewith the association's regulations, especially the principle of “ASEANConsensus”, and upholding international law.

Hai summarised Vietnam’s five key contributions to theassociation's internal and external relations, which, he believed, affect theexistence, solidarity, growth and voice of ASEAN in the region and in theworld.

From the very beginning, Vietnam participated in thedevelopment of and made important contributions to the birth of the 2007 ASEANCharter which came into effect one year later. Principles underpinning theorganisation's existence, peace, security and development in Southeast Asia,embodied in the Charter's provisions, were all contributed by Vietnam.

Vietnam has also made proposals and contributions to the buildingof the ASEAN Community which includes three pillars of ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

During its tenures as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam launched manyinitiatives and successfully organised the association's activities, leavinga deep impression on ASEAN’s role, position and growth. Taking Vietnam’s 2010ASEAN Chairmanship as an example, Hai stressed that Vietnam reached consensus onthe decision to expand the East Asia Summit (EAS) with the participation of bothRussia and the US. In the year, it also left a hallmark in working with ASEAN toovercome the COVID-19 pandemic.

The expert also mentioned Vietnam’s contributions to theapproval of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as well as itsresponsible but principled contributions in the spirit of the United NationsCharter and international law in resolving disputes and crises in the region,especially relations between ASEAN and China, and the East Sea issue.

Vietnam's contributions in this issue is, first and foremost,for the national interests, but its international law-based approach hascontributed to ensuring and maintaining a Southeast Asian region, and asea with sovereignty disputes but without armed conflicts, and maintainingpeace for development. This approach is agreed and supported by all countries,Hai went on.

Vietnam has also made contributions in its role as ASEAN'scoordinator with partners outside the region, contributing to consolidating andstrengthening ASEAN's central role in international and regional affairs. As anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2009-2010 and2020-2021 terms, Vietnam integrated regional issues into the council's agenda, helpingraise the voice of the bloc at the UN peace and security forum.

Vietnam has also actively participated in solvingnon-traditional security issues, mainly through ASEAN mechanisms and those led byASEAN, especially in the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes, cybersecurity, maritime security, rescue and humanitarian assistance, he added./.