The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a ceremony to hoist the flags of ASEAN and Vietnam in Hanoi on August 8, to mark the 45th founding anniversary of ASEAN and 17 years since Vietnam officially joined the bloc (July 28, 1995 – July 28, 2012).
The ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the Ambassadors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in Vietnam.
Also on the same day, a number of Vietnam’s diplomatic representative agencies and consulate generals from overseas and all ASEAN member countries also organized similar ceremonies to mark ASEAN day.
The ceremony has become a traditional activity of ASEAN countries since 2011, in order to represent their determination to build the ASEAN Community in 2015, promote the role and image of ASEAN, and maintain basic principles, solidarity and unity in parallel with being proactive and creative in resolving issues on the new development path, especially challenges to peace, stability, security and development in the region.
By hoisting the ASEAN flag beside the national flag, Vietnam sends a message of being a proactive and responsible member of the group and contributing to building a stronger and closer ASEAN Community, as well as promote the image of ASEAN and the ASEAN Community to the international arena, contributing to the common success of the association./.
Source: CPV
