Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long and other  ambassadors from ASEAN nations at the ceremony  Source: PX Rome

On the occasion of the 45^th foundation anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 17^th year since Vietnam has become an official member of ASEAN, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy on July 30 organized hoisting the ASEAN flag.

The ceremony was organized solemnly in the precinct of the embassy with representatives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors of ASEAN members in Italy and all staff of the embassy and representative agencies of Vietnam in Italy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese ambassador in Italy Nguyen Hoang Long, reviewed the process of the foundation and development of ASEAN and affirmed that the ceremony of hoisting the flag is a significant activity to commemorate the foundation day of the association (August 8^th, 1967). This also shows a commitment, the first symbol of ASEAN countries towards building an ASEAN community in 2015 based on three principles: political-security community, economic community and socio-cultural community. The event also represents the stronger cooperation between ASEAN and Italy.

Previously, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had cooperated with Confindustria to organize an awareness forum on ASEAN in Rome on March 22 - 23, in order to promote economic cooperation between Italy and ASEAN countries.

This is the first idea conducted in a European country, so it has great significance for the EU maintaining the deep relations between the EU and ASEAN.

Italy’s export to the ASEAN market has grown rapidly recently and has reached nearly six billion USD/year; and export of the country into some ASEAN countries has doubled compared to 7 - 8 years ago.

ASEAN now has ten members including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. At the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 44) in Indonesia, ASEAN agreed with its members to hang the flag of the bloc beside the national flag at all representative foreign agencies of the member countries, in order to raise the awareness of ASEAN and the building process of ASEAN community.

Vietnam officially joined the ASEAN on July 28, 1995. After 17 years of joining the association, Vietnam has contributed to ASEAN’s activities positively and effectively and together ASEAN countries to strive to realize the target of building ASEAN community in 2015./.