The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a ceremony in Hanoi on August 8 to fly the ASEAN flag in celebration of the bloc’s 55th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967) and 27th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the regional organization (July 28, 1995).

Joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the first step for Vietnam in the process of international integration, and the bloc has served as a gateway for the country’s integration into the region and the world, said Pham Quynh Mai, deputy director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Heads of Civil Service Meeting themed “Modernising civil service towards a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community” kicked off on August 5 as part of the 21st ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM 21). In her opening remarks, Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, who is also Chairwoman of ACCSM 21, emphasised the important contributions of the civil service in the ASEAN community’s adaptation process to new challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 4 for heads of delegations of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus 3 countries to the 21st ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters.

The foreign ministers of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries reiterated their stance on maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of peace and cooperation on August 4 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended a dialogue between ASEAN FMs and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Cambodia on August 2.

A Vietnamese delegation joined others of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and India in the Mekong-Ganga Senior Officials' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 1.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Dendias in Hanoi on August 1, during which the two sides sought measures to strengthen cooperation in areas of potential.

At the invitation of the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will lead a Vietnamese delegation at the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-55) held in Phnom Penh from August 2-6.

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed Vietnam’s wish to enhance traditional ties with Mexico during virtual talks with President of the Mexican Senate Olga Sanchez Cordero on July 18.