https://youtu.be/x-hTCUMtdMM
(Eagle News) – Thailand formally over of the chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit to Vietnam during the closing ceremony of the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Thailand on Monday, Nov. 4.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha turned over the symbolic gavel of the ASEAN chairmanship to Vietnamese Prime Minster Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.
Vietnam will officially become the ASEAN chair on January 1, 2020. This is the third time it has held the ASEAN chairmanship after 1998 and 2010.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut said that he is confident that the ASEAN is in good hands with Vietnam as the ASEAN chair.
“I have every confidence that Vietnam will carry on the ASEAN chairmanship from Thailand with pride and will carry on ASEAN’s dream of advancing partnerships, sustainable peace, freedom, security and prosperity in the region for present and future generations,” the Thai Prime Minister said.
He also said that three Cs are important for ASEAN’s sustainability: Continuity, Complementarity, and Creativity.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, in his acceptance speech, said that that the theme for the 2020 summit was Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN.
He said Vietnam’s chairmanship will focus efforts on consolidating cohesion in ASEAN.
“This shall be done through intensifying the solidarity and unity, strengthening economic integration and connectivity, deepening the values and particularities of the ASEAN community, improving the ASEAN’s institutional capacity, and strengthening ASEAN’s engagement with the global community ” said Vietnam’s prime minister.
“Let us think community and act community,” he added.
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was not able to attend the ASEAN chairmanship turn-over ceremonies. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., attended on the President’s behalf.
