Malaysian Scholar Discusses Vietnam’s Role in ASEAN
University of Malaya Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi says Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy, constructive relations with major powers and regional cooperation help strengthen ASEAN’s unity and strategic autonomy. He also discusses South China Sea disputes and ASEAN’s response to regional challenges.
Discussing the 49th ASEAN Summit, University of Malaya Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Vietnam is playing an increasingly important diplomatic and economic role in Southeast Asia. He noted that Vietnam values multilateral cooperation and continues to uphold its commitments to ASEAN while maintaining cooperative relations with competing major powers, helping reduce excessive dependence on any single power.
On the South China Sea, he said Vietnam and Malaysia both support the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the development of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. In his view, these principles are vital to maritime security and regional stability.
Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Vietnam can help uphold ASEAN centrality in three ways: building consensus among member states on maritime security, the Myanmar crisis and emerging economic divisions; supporting ASEAN-led mechanisms and the peaceful settlement of disputes; and demonstrating strategic autonomy through diverse foreign relations.
He also said Vietnam, Malaysia and other ASEAN member states need to strengthen institutional coordination, improve crisis management mechanisms and increase economic resilience. He said ASEAN’s strategic autonomy depends on whether its members can build enough collective influence to engage with external partners on their own terms.
Source: VietVance
