ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremonies mark 58th anniversary in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is an annual tradition observed by all ten member states on August 8.

This year’s events commemorated not only ASEAN’s founding but also the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community and 30 years of Vietnam’s membership.

In Hanoi, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu presided over the ceremony.

Attendees included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, head of Vietnam’s ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation, along with ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN partners.

In his remarks, Vu emphasized the unique significance of this year’s anniversary, coinciding with major regional milestones.

On behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and the Vietnamese government, he offered congratulations to ASEAN and its member countries.

He highlighted the bloc’s increasingly central role in a rapidly shifting global landscape, pointing to ongoing challenges including strategic competition among major powers, non-traditional security threats, and volatility in the global economy.

He also reiterated Vietnam’s support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to contributing more deeply to the region’s progress.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the flag-raising ceremony at Bach Dang Wharf Park featured remarks from Malaysian Consul General Firdauz Othman, representing the incoming 2025 ASEAN Chair.

He expressed pride and optimism about ASEAN’s path over the decades.

From the 1967 Bangkok Declaration led by the five founding members, including Malaysia, ASEAN has grown into a vital force in regional cooperation, Othman said.

“This journey is a vivid testament to the power of diplomacy, mutual respect, and the aspiration for prosperity,” he noted.

He also praised Vietnam’s contributions over the past 30 years, calling the country’s integration and leadership within ASEAN truly admirable.

“It has not only smoothly integrated into the ASEAN Community but also emerged as a proactive, influential member playing an important role in our collective development, stability, and success,” he said.

Founded on August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes ten members, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vietnam officially joined the bloc on July 28, 1995.

Timor-Leste is expected to become ASEAN’s 11th member at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.