Vietnam Takes theโ helm of ASEAN-US Cooperation
WASHINGTON D.C. – Vietnam has officially assumed โขthe โขchairmanship of โthe ASEAN Committee in Washington โคD.C.โข (ACW) for โฃthe remainder of 2023, outlining a robust agenda focused on strengthening ties between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States. The handover ceremony, marking the transition from thailand’s leadership, included the symbolic transfer of the ACW gavel and ASEAN flag.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the โคUS, Nguyen Quoc Dung, lauded Thailand‘s successful stewardship โฃof the ACW, specifically highlighting theirโฃ commemoration of ASEAN Day on August 8th. โฃAmbassador Dung pledged to build upon this momentum, emphasizing Vietnam’s commitment to fosteringโฃ deeper andโฃ more meaningful engagement with US partners.
While details are forthcoming,Vietnam has already developed a series of initiatives to advance ASEAN-US cooperation. The coming months are slated to include a diverse range ofโ events. September will feature National Day celebrations for Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam,โ alongside participation in activities surroundingโ the UN General Assembly and the welcoming of new ambassadors from Laos and Indonesia.
October will mark a significant milestone with the formal recognition of Timor-Leste’s admission into ASEAN. The โคACW,โค inโ partnershipโค with the Malaysian Embassy, also plans to hostโ a program dedicated to exploring the implications of artificial intelligence. November’s agenda includes a meeting with Sean Duffy, Secretary of โthe US Department of Transportation โand Acting NASA Administrator. The year will culminate in December with a joint cultural showcase in Washington D.C.,โ highlighting the diverse cultures of all ASEAN member states.Ambassador Dung expressed โconfidence โขinโ the continued collaborative spirit of fellow ASEANโค members as Vietnam leads theโ ACW through the end of the โyear.The handover concluded โคwith a networkingโ session โคconnecting ASEAN embassy representatives with key US partners.