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1. ASEAN’s coordinating role in multilateral economic, political, and security mechanisms

Firstly, multilateral security mechanisms led by ASEAN are becoming a gathering place, attracting the attention of major powers and countries in the Indo-Pacific region, towards promoting sustainable security, based on international law.

Regional Forum (ARF), Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM), ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), East Asia Summit (EAS), The Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue), the ASEAN Meeting with Partners (ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3) are unique initiatives of ASEAN countries. Over the course of development, these mechanisms have created international forums with the participation of major countries. At these forums, participating countries expressed their opinions, exchanged concerns, enhance mutual understanding, and expressed the desire to create a balance to curb the risks that threaten peace and stability in Southeast Asia in particular and the entire Indo-Pacific region in general.

Entering the third decade of the 21st century, ARF, ADMM/ADMM+, EAS, Shangri-La are all proving to be a form of cooperation that adapts to the new situation, suitable for the Indo-Pacific region and has made significant contributions to regional security. Currently, all these mechanisms call on members to participate in promoting sustainable security, based on international law. Despite the difficulties in the operation process, ASEAN’s coordination mechanism and operation at these multilateral security forums represent a new breakthrough in its determination to create a new ASEAN-centered security architecture. The ASEAN approach to multilateral security mechanisms is “inclusive, open, and non-binding”⁽¹⁾.

It is this approach that has made it possible for the major powers to accept and support the central role of ASEAN. New changes in awareness and action in both traditional and non-traditional security in recent years (Covid-19 pandemic, food security, humanitarian assistance...), demonstrate the determination to maintain and strengthen ASEAN’s central role in the region. ASEAN acts as a code of conduct that applies to all participating countries. This helps ASEAN to control and master the principles and cooperation mechanisms, turning ASEAN into the “core” and “center” of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. So far, 50 countries have joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia ⁽²⁾ - this further shows the role of ASEAN in promoting friendly multilateral cooperation and peaceful coexistence.

Secondly, multilateral economic mechanisms led by ASEAN are bringing together the world’s major economies and ASEAN is playing a central role.

Along with focusing on, stabilizing and upgrading the role of ASEAN in the mechanisms of Free Trade Agreements with major partners (FTAs + 1) in the world such as the US, China, Japan, India, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, etc., ASEAN is particularly interested in playing the role of an economic center in multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms such as RCEP, APEC, CPTTP, and so on.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has 15 members, including the 10 members of ASEAN. This mechanism was officially signed in November 2020 with the expectation of creating the largest free trade market ever. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting global and regional supply chains, affecting the global economy along with emerging trade protectionist trends,

RCEP opens up a large-scale market of 2.2 billion people, accounting for nearly 30% of the world’s population and reaching about USD27 trillion, accounting for 30% of the global GDP⁽³⁾. RCEP is creating a binding legal framework in the region on trade policy, investment, intellectual property, e-commerce, dispute settlement, etc., contributing to creating a fair and transparent trading environment. RCEP is seen as a synthesis of the scope of ASEAN+1 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in promoting trade and investment. RCEP contributes to highlighting ASEAN’s central role in shaping the regional architecture as RCEP is the largest-scale regional economic alliance in that ASEAN has played a leading role to date. Great powers such as China, Japan, and the United States all agree on the central role of ASEAN, at least in regional economic integration.

In the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) mechanism, including 11 member countries, including a number of ASEAN members from the founding session (Singapore, Brunei) and members that joined later (Malaysia, Vietnam). In 2021, China submitted an application to join the CPTTP, some members inside and outside ASEAN are considering joining this Agreement such as Thailand and the Philippines, the UK, Korea, etc., enhancing the prestige of the CPTPP. Currently, the CPTPP has a total GDP of about USD 10.2 trillion, accounting for more than 13% of the total global GDP and with 6.8% of the world population⁽⁴⁾.

The aim of the CPTTP is to build a high-quality free trade agreement, cut tariffs, move towards a common tariff, establish a common framework on intellectual property, apply common standards on investment environment and human resources, and develop a mechanism for the settlement of disputes between investors and member countries. The degree of institutionalization of cooperation in the CPTPP is very high, the binding of members in the CPTPP is also much higher than that of the current free-trade- area framework of East Asia.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic exerting a negative impact on the global economy, Vietnam and the ASEAN Community confidently demonstrated strong levels of bravery, effort, and self-reliance to continue to create a “central role” for itself in multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms in the Indo-Pacific region. As a member of ASEAN, Vietnam, and other members are along with other members, is proactively, positively, and responsibly involved in formulating policies and training knowledgeable human resources to create a dynamic market, a destination of international economic integration, an ASEAN Community aiming for the goal of prosperity and sustainable development, leaving no one behind. The right grasp and awareness of the central role of ASEAN will help Vietnam have the right orientation as a member of this community.

The central role in multilateral cooperation mechanisms is a result of ASEAN’s long-term, unremitting efforts. This role is like a “political power” in international relations of ASEAN. It can be promoted or degraded over time. Therefore, each member of ASEAN needs to be aware of the solidarity within the bloc, and needs to be proactive, and responsible when participating in ASEAN-led mechanisms to jointly maintain the central role of regional organization.

2. Some solutions to promote Vietnam’s role in ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms

After nearly 37 years of renovation and nearly 28 years of international integration since Vietnam joined ASEAN (1995), Vietnam’s international position and prestige have been increasingly affirmed. In addition to Vietnam’s contribution within ASEAN, Vietnam is also a proactive, and responsible member in ASEAN’s external activities, specifically the multilateral economic, political, and security mechanisms led by ASEAN. This is considered a channel for multilateral foreign affairs that the 13th National Party Congress attaches great importance to and prioritizes: “Strengthen bilateral diplomacy and raise the level of multilateral diplomacy. Actively participate in and promote Vietnam’s role in multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN, the United Nations, APEC, Mekong sub-regional cooperation and regional and international cooperation frameworks”⁽⁵⁾. Among them, multilateral mechanisms led by ASEAN are being given top priority by Vietnam. Therefore, in order to promote and affirm Vietnam’s role in ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms, Vietnam needs to implement the following solutions:

Firstly, Vietnam needs to proactively grasp and fulfill its obligations and responsibilities when participating in multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms.

The 13th National Party Congress affirmed that proactively seizing opportunities and challenges in multilateral economic integration means: “Improve the level and quality of international integration to expand the market, take advantage of capital, technology, knowledge and management skills; improve the competitiveness of the economy, enterprises, and products (...) Strictly implement international commitments and signed trade agreements (...) Building economic diplomacy for development, taking people, localities, and businesses as the center of services. It is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the State, enterprises, and Vietnamese people in international economic, trade, and investment disputes”⁽⁶⁾.

With the above policy, Vietnam needs to quickly reform economic structures, mechanisms, policies, and institutions in accordance with international principles and practices, creating opportunities for market expansion and investment for development.

In respect of cooperation mechanisms founded and joined by ASEAN such as AFTA, ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, APEC, RCEP, CPTTP, ASEM, etc., Vietnam needs to continue promoting the construction of a digital economy, focusing on perfecting institutions and policies in line with the socialist-oriented market mechanism and international practices.

In the context that major economies continue to adjust their development strategies, reducing external dependence, changing supply chains, Vietnam needs to develop specific and outstanding mechanisms and policies so that science-technology and innovation are really the driving force of economic growth, creating breakthroughs, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and the competitiveness of the economy. Infrastructure, logistical system, the management capacity of the State and enterprises, administrative procedures, qualified human resources, working conditions of laborers, etc., need to be focused on and modernized to attract FDI from the outside.

Ministries, government sectors, and localities of Vietnam need to continue to create investment incentive mechanisms suitable to the characteristics of foreign-invested partners and industries. For example, in the manufacturing sectors, if partners have high level qualifications in science and technology, it is necessary to pay attention to building infrastructure through public-private partnership (PPP), allowing foreign enterprises to contribute capital to Vietnam’s state-owned enterprises; consider further expanding the incentive mechanism for enterprises possessing advanced technology as well as enterprises expanding investment on a large scale; build a cyclic production chain; promote investment cooperation with foreign enterprises in areas such as human resource development, research, and development support, and so on.

With existing advantages (as a member of ASEAN, having participated at increasingly deeper level in global supply chains such as RCEP, CPTPP, and EVFTA, etc.), Vietnam is becoming an attractive destination targeted by many major economies in trade agreements.

 Secondly, Vietnam needs to proactively and actively participate in multilateral security mechanisms through action programs and initiatives for regional peace and security.

In the multilateral security mechanisms established by ASEAN, as a coordinator, Vietnam needs to continue to take advantage of similarities in interests, approaches of ASEAN and major countries in regional security issues.

Associated with regional security is the issue of Vietnam’s interests and sovereignty in the East Sea. Currently, the East Sea is one of the strategic competition areas between the US and China. In addition, other major countries, and regional organizations such as Japan, Russia, India, Australia, and the EU all have their own ambitions and strategies to increase influence in the East Sea. This exerts a direct impact on ASEAN and Vietnam, especially strongly impacting the peaceful and stable environment that Vietnam is trying to maintain with ASEAN for integration and development.

Therefore, participating in multilateral security mechanisms led by ASEAN, Vietnam needs to “continue to take advantage of the points of consensus in terms of interests and approaches of ASEAN and major countries on the East Sea issue to protect national interests and promote settling any disputes in the East Sea in a peaceful manner, respecting international laws”⁽⁷⁾.

On the other hand, while ASEAN countries have a common goal of building a strong ASEAN Community, each country has its own advantages and benefits, so finding  difficulties and challenges,which requires Vietnam to carefully consider and properly handle relations with countries such as China, the US, Russia, India, Japan, and even the other members of ASEAN.

With its leading and coordinating role in ARF, ADMM/ADMM+, EAS, Vietnam should continue to emphasize the urgency to ensure maritime and aviation freedom, and to maintain unimpeded lawful commercial activities in the East Sea; calling for demilitarization and restraint and non-use of armed-forces in handling disputes in the East Sea; respecting international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS-1982), regional principles of conduct. Vietnam needs to take advantage of its leading role to create consensus among members and get support from outsiders.

Thirdly, Vietnam continues to proactively lead ASEAN to unite and consensus in accordance with the spirit of the “ASEAN Community Vision 2025” and “The ASEAN Community Vision After 2025”.

With the “ ASEAN Community Vision 2025”, the governments of the ASEAN members countries are committed to building ASEAN according to the goal of: A community of unity, peace, stability, and shared prosperity. A rule-based, people - oriented, and people-centred ASEAN, where our people enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms, with a higher quality of life and the benefits that the community building process brings, strengthening the common bond and identity, based on the objectives and principles of the ASEAN Charter ⁽⁸⁾.

 As a member country, Vietnam has strictly complied with the commitments of members in previous legal documents such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), ASEAN Vision 2020, Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, ASEAN Charter, Roadmap for ASEAN Community Building (2009 - 2015), Bali Declaration on “ASEAN in the Global Community of Nations”, Vietnam has actively contributed to efforts in narrowing the development gap in ASEAN in general and in the Mekong sub-region as well as in the three countries of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia in particular.

With the “Vision of the ASEAN Community after 2025”, the governments of ASEAN member countries are committed to a truly strong ASEAN community, playing a central role in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with a high international status⁽⁹⁾. To contribute to the realization of this goal, Vietnam recognizes the need to further promote its reputation and capacity in the three nuclear communities: APSC, AEC, ASCC. Specifically:

(i) With respect to the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), as a member of ASEAN, Vietnam needs to strictly adhere to the basic principles, values, and common standards of ASEAN as well as the principles of international laws on peaceful conduct in relations among these nations. Vietnam upholds shared values in the spirit of unity in diversity and deals with the threat of violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

Vietnam needs to improve its capacity to effectively and promptly handle emerging challenges, including non-traditional security issues, especially transnational crimes, and transboundary challenges. Resolve disputes and differences by peaceful means, enhance confidence-building, and promote preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution initiatives.

Through ASEAN mechanisms, Vietnam leads and applies internationally recognized maritime principles and conventions to enhance security and maritime cooperation for peace and stability inside and outside the region. Thereby, it is expected to build a community of solidarity and unity and promote the central role of ASEAN, which is the main driving force in shaping the regional structure built on the basis of ASEAN-led mechanisms.

(ii) For the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Vietnam should contribute to accelerating the process of a “single market” by strengthening commitments on trade of goods and through the effective resolution of non-tariff barriers; deeper integration in the field of trade in services; freer flow of investment, skilled labors, entrepreneurs, and capital sources. Actively working with ASEAN-4 countries to narrow the development gap is a priority in economic cooperation activities that should continue to be promoted.

Integration in the AEC is still considered an important “anchor” for Vietnam’s international economic integration. Therefore, Vietnam needs to continue to improve its legal framework, promote economic institutional reform, and overcome shortcomings to ensure it is more in line with the requirements of international integration and build trust with investors and increase competitiveness; actively coordinate with ASEAN countries to promote the building of stable, sustainable, rules-based cooperation frameworks with foreign partners in order to expand export markets and attract investment from outside the bloc.

With the AEC’s “Master Plan for Building the ASEAN Economic Community to 2025”, Vietnam needs to adjust cooperation programs in ASEAN in response to the new situations, and together with AEC countries affirm and promote ASEAN’s central role in coordinating economic cooperation activities in the region.

(iii) For the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Vietnam needs to proactively connect and work towards the goal of an inclusive community, improving the quality of life, facilitating equal access to opportunities for all, and promoting the protection of human rights for women, children, young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, migrant workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. A dynamic and harmonious community that is aware and proud of its cultural identity and heritage goes along with enhanced creativity and proactive contribution to the global community.

Vietnam truly needs to be nucleus of cohesion, strength, and prosperous development, which requires the constant responsibility to strengthen solidarity, unity, and intra-regional connectivity and harmoniously handle the relationship between he common interests of the Community and the private interests of each member country. It is necessary to continue to consider ASEAN as an “exit” of the world for Vietnam to have a priority strategy in international relations.

Besides actively participating in East Asian cooperation processes, Vietnam cannot ignore sub-regional cooperation mechanisms such as: the Greater Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanism, or the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam growth triangle mechanism. For the Mekong sub-region, Vietnam needs to actively and proactively cooperate with the countries of the Mekong sub-region in regard to non-traditional security issues. At the same time, Vietnam should take an active, tectonic role with Laos and Cambodia in the formation of a future Mekong Community with 3 main pillars: (i) sub-regional connectivity; (ii) creating a sustainable development process; (iii) building Mekong identity.

For the CLV Development Triangle mechanism (Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam), Vietnam needs to continue to strengthen connectivity between the three economies in order to improve economic competitiveness, to effectively participate in regional and global value chains, and respond to common challenges. Vietnam has actively contributed to the content of the CLV Development Triangle Conferences and supported the gradual expansion of cooperation in the CLV Development Triangle Area towards covering all three countries. Vietnam needs to continue to actively lead this mechanism together with the remaining members to complete the “Master Plan on Connecting the 3 CLV Economies by the year 2030”, including major orientations towards promoting cooperation and connectivity in infrastructure, institutions, the economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Fourthly, there needs to be increased awareness and responsibilities for departments, ministries, and sectors (first of all, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security) in consulting planning, and implementing policies to participate in ASEAN’s multilateral mechanisms, to improve the quality of strategic forecasting.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Public Security, with their assigned functions and tasks, play an important role in advising and implementing the foreign policy of the Party and the State when participating in ASEAN security mechanisms. Therefore, these ministries need to thoroughly grasp and properly perceive the organization, the implementation, and expansion of foreign relations with major countries and multilateral mechanisms of ASEAN according to the guidelines of the Party and the policies of the State.

To formulate appropriate strategies and policies to help Vietnam effectively fulfill its role in participating in ASEAN’s multilateral mechanisms, relevant ministries, agencies, and sectors shall necessarily improve the quality of strategic forecasts. This involves harmoniously combining research methods to predict the origin and development of external and internal factors that have the capacity to influence and govern the sustainable development of a country in the long term, as a basis for planning, organizing, and implementing policies and strategies for national construction and defense and social progress. The content of the strategic forecast needs to analyze and assess the movement, changes, and development trends, the favorable and unfavorable impacts on the development of the world, the region, and the country, as well.

Vietnam has been actively participating in and contributing to ASEAN-led multilateral mechanisms, affirming the correct foreign policy of our Party and State. That participation not only shows the initiative and positivity in Vietnam’s motto of multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, but also shows the inevitable need for cooperation for the peace and prosperity of the whole region. To further promote this role, Vietnam has consistently followed the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, promotion, and elevation of multilateral foreign relations, promoting self-reliance, confidently strive to blend in with the flow of the times to have potential, improve international position and prestige.

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Received: March 6, 2023; Revised: April 3, 2023; Approved for publication: April 20, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1) Duong Van Huy: The central role of ASEAN: challenges, prospects and implications for Vietnam, Communist Review, No. 1,005 (January 2023), p.110.

(2) Luan Thuy Duong: ASEAN: 55 years of success and development, Event Profile (Specialization Section of Communist Review), No. 458, p.24.

(3) Phan Trang: There were many difficulties in implementing RCEP, but Vietnam has performed it, http://baochinhphu.vn/Thi-truong/Rat-nhieu-kho-khan-khi-dam-phan-RCEP-nhung-Viet-Nam-da-lam-duoc/414176.vgp, accessed on January 15, 2023.

(4) The CPTPP Agreement officially came into effect with Vietnam, https://vneconomy.vn/hiep-dinh-cptpp-chinh-thuc-co-hieu-luc-voi-viet-nam-20190114101849502.htm, accessed January 15, 2023.

(5), (6) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.162, 283-284.

(7) Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics: Textbook of International Relations, Political Theory Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.195.

(8) According to VNA: Complete Document of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 Statement, https://bnews.vn/toan-van-tuyen-bo-ve-tam-nhin-cong-dong-asean-2025/4410.html, accessed January 10, 2023.

(9) Vietnam with ASEAN Vision to 2025 and beyond, https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-voi-tam-nhin-asean-toi-2025-va-sau-do-119986.html, accessed January 16, 2023.