Viet Nam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1995. It has so far confirmed its position and prestige in the group and has been lauded by other ASEAN member countries and partners for its active participation and contributions to developing the association and cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners.

ASEAN cooperation has helped Viet Nam to strengthen peace and security for national development, break political blockage and economic isolation and facilitate the implementation of the Party’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification.

Viet Nam always attaches importance to ASEAN cooperation as the group is of strategic significance to the country’s security and development.

Viet Nam will maintain its activeness, proactiveness and sense of responsibility, continue upholding the results of its ASEAN Chair 2010, strengthen the bloc’s solidarity and contribute to promoting regional linkage, building the ASEAN Community, boosting relations with its partners and the association’s role in the region, in order to enhance peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Viet Nam is expected to improve its role and position and promote bilateral relations with its partners.

The 19 th ASEAN Summit will continue the theme "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations" to review the implementation of the results achieved since the 18th ASEAN Summit and discuss measures to promote the construction of ASEAN Community and develop the international role of ASEAN as well as strengthen the central role of ASEAN in the region.

On this occasion, ASEAN leaders and partners will discuss orientations to boost cooperation between ASEAN and its partners and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They will sign the Declaration “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations” and pass a number of important documents, including the ASEAN Framework on equitable economic development, Declaration on strengthening the role and participation of the disabled in the ASEAN Community and ASEAN Framework on regional comprehensive economic partnership.

They will also adopt documents such as the ASEAN-China joint declaration on celebration of 20 years of dialogue relations, the ASEAN-Japan joint declaration on strategic partnership and action plan in the 2012- 2017, the ASEAN- US joint declaration and the ASEAN-US Plan of Action in the 2011-2015 period, the ASEAN-UN joint declaration on comprehensive partnership and EAS declarations on principles of mutual benefit and ASEAN connectivity./.