Vietnam Accompanies ASEAN in 25 years of Integration Initiative

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The photo exhibition "25 Years of Integration" showcases important milestones since IAI was launched at the 4th Informal ASEAN Summit in 2000, with 862 projects worth more than US $170 million being implemented.

The photo exhibition "25 Years of Integration" showcases important milestones since IAI was launched at the 4th Informal ASEAN Summit in 2000, with 862 projects worth more than US $170 million being implemented (Photo: VNA).

In his opening remarks, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that IAI is a key mechanism to help narrow the development gap, support Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) to fully implement their commitments and deeply participate in the process of integration and community building.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong affirmed that the 25th anniversary of IAI is an opportunity to reaffirm the determination to strengthen cooperation, narrow the development gap and move towards a self-reliant and inclusive ASEAN.

Sharing that the ceremony, Japan's Ambassador to ASEAN Kiya Masahiko and President of the Institute for Economic Research of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Tetsuya Watanabe, highly appreciated IAI's achievements. For example, more than 51,000 staff were trained, and the GDP gap per capita between CLMV countries and the rest of ASEAN decreased from 3.4 times in 2000 to 2 times in 2020. CLMV countries have made great progress in macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development and economic law reform.

One of the main discussion topics is the orientation of IAI after 2025, emphasizing the importance of cohesion with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The priorities mentioned include digital transformation, infrastructure development, climate change response, sub-regional cooperation and strengthening resilience to new challenges.

ASEAN partners are committed to continuing to accompany each other, especially in the fields of digital economy, green growth and climate change response. Some recommendations were made, such as diversifying funding sources, improving the project approval process, mobilizing the private sector, and ensuring that the initiative is in line with the national development strategies of member countries.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General in charge of the Economic Community Satvinder Singh emphasized that in ASEAN, when one country moves forward, all move forward.

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