Hanoi (VNA) - Members of ASEAN,international political observers, and media outlets all view Vietnam as havingfulfilled its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020 superbly, Vietnamese Ambassadorto Cambodia Vu Quang Minh has said.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings fromNovember 12 to 15 wrapped up Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

Minh told Russia’s Sputnik news agency that, forthe first time in the bloc’s 53-year history, most ASEAN meetings were held viavideoconference, including the 36th ASEAN Summit in June and the 53rd ASEANForeign Ministers’ Meeting in September, which is a new format for meetings,especially high-level ones.

In choosing “Cohesive & Responsive” as the themefor its ASEAN year, Vietnam hoped to affirm that solidarity is decisive in thedurability of the bloc, he said, stressing that only in a cohesive andresponsive ASEAN Community can members be effectively responsive to the impactof rapid and strong changes in the world. Being responsive also helps ASEAN bemore cohesive, enhancing its overall strength and resoluteness.

The ambassador said the impact of COVID-19 far surpassesthat of the 1997 Asian financial crisis or the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.But ASEAN hasn’t been defeated, and as the Chair of the bloc, Vietnam hasjoined other members in exerting every effort to overcome any and all difficulties.

Nguyen Manh Tien, Vice Chairman of the NationalAssembly’s Committee for External Relations, told Sputnik that Vietnam fully performedits role as a connectivity centre of ASEAN, earning the appreciation of leadersof other nations.

It has also taken the lead in boosting economicconnectivity in the “new normal”, which has not only helped its economy sustaingrowth this year but also been a starting point for the re-establishment ofsupply chains affected by the pandemic, he said.

The timely adaptation and response to COVID-19is also a highlight of Vietnam’s activities as the ASEAN Chair, Tien said. Assoon as the pandemic was first uncovered in China’s Wuhan city, Vietnamconvened meetings to discuss the urgent actions needed to fight the outbreakand shifted most ASEAN meetings from in-person to online.

The number of events delayed or cancelled due toCOVID-19 was minimised as a result, helping to ensure cohesion among memberstates in joint activities and the implementation of programmes.

ASEAN has become more cohesive as a new link inglobal supply chains and the fight against the pandemic, he said.

Meanwhile, international relations analystNguyen Minh Tam told the Russian news agency that, under Vietnam’s leadership, ASEAN’sinternational role increased considerably in 2020 and the bloc reachedconsensus on many important issues relating to regional peace and stability.

From 2020 onwards, ASEAN will gradually becomean example of a community of solidarity for the goal of building peace,stability, equality, development, and prosperity, he added./.