Essay on Translating Animal Idiom

PM’s speech on ASEAN founding anniversary (14/08/2012) | |
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|The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will celebrate its 45th founding anniversary on August 8. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 7 |
|delivered a televised speech on this occasion. |
|The following is the full text of the statement: |
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|Today, we join other Governments and people of ASEAN member countries in celebrating the 45th anniversary of the foundation of ASEAN. This is a special |
|milestone for ASEAN, marking a path of growth and maturity with admirable achievements. |
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|Following four and a half decades of continued expansion of cooperation and promotion of integration, ASEAN has forged an important standing in the region |
|and the world with recognised credit for its positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia - |
|Pacific. In the advent of the ASEAN Community, the Association has been making strong moves with great efforts to strengthen cooperation and integration |
|within ASEAN in the political-security, economic and cultural – social pillars. On top of that are efforts to narrow the development gap while expanding and |
|upgrading multi-sided, mutually beneficial cooperation with outside partners, including major powers and centres of the world. ASEAN has played its central |
|role in leading important dialogue and cooperation processes, such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) etc. It has been |
|the main driver to promote regional cooperation and connectivity in East Asia. |
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|The main factor that makes ASEAN’s standing and visibility is its capacity to maintain the “unity in diversity” and create synergy from the unity, solidarity|
|and the “ ASEAN Way ”. ASEAN has always promoted consensus, mutual respect and assistance, focusing on and harmonising national interest with that of the |
|whole community. The power of ASEAN unity has been tested as it sailed through the 1997 – 1998 financial crisis, working together and sharing with one |
|another in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and pandemics affecting the region. Solidarity and unity are also key to the prestige and |
|credibility of ASEAN in its relations with outside partners. |
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|The past 45 years also witnessed ASEAN’s initiative, creativeness and adaptability in facing new developments in the region and the world. Peace, stability, |
|security and development in the region would have been impossible without ASEAN’ positive contributions. The Association has adopted many important |
|Documents, such as the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (TAC), Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), ARF Vision Statement 2020, Roadmap for an |
|ASEAN Community by 2015, ASEAN Charter and so on. |
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|ASEAN has always attached importance to the furtherance of its cooperation with partners via the establishment of ASEAN-led regional mechanisms and |
|cooperation forums such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS, ARF etc. ASEAN centrality has been promoted thanks to its ability to reconcile, connect and balance |
|concerns and interest in order to work together on building an environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the region as well as supporting efforts |
|for connectivity and development. This is an important element that helps an organisation modest in size with a concert of small and medium countries to |
|become a centre of gravity attracting partners, big and small, within and outside the region actively engaged in the processes of dialogue and cooperation in|
|the Asia – Pacific. |
|Formidable changes have been seen in the region and the world and in ASEAN itself in the past 45 years. However, what remain unchanged and need to be |
|preserved and promoted in the new context are ASEAN’s norms, principles, ways of doing things and particularities. To achieve the ASEAN Community by 2015, |
|ASEAN needs to observe with flexibility and skills the following principles and guidelines: |
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|First, remain one-minded in resolve and take strong actions to complete on schedule with quality cooperation plans in all political – security, economic, |
|cultural-social pillars in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community. Continue to intensify ASEAN connectivity, promote equitable, sustainable development and |
|narrow the development gap. Strengthen actions on and raise the awareness about the building of a caring Community among regional Governments and people. |
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|Second, firmly maintain the fundamental principles, stay united and unanimous while being proactive and creative in settling emerging issues in the new |
|development stage, especially challenges to peace, stability, security and development in the region. Continue to promote dialogue on building and sharing |
|codes of conducts and conflict prevention. Strictly deliver on the commitments included in such documents as the TAC, SEANWFZ, Declaration on the Conduct of |
|Parties in the East Sea (DOC) etc. Settle peacefully all disputes and differences on the basis of international law and the ASEAN spirit of solidarity. |
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|Third, continually expand comprehensive cooperation with outside partners and be proactive in engaging them in the endeavours for peace, stability and |
|development in the region as well as in supporting the process of community building, deepened integration and connectivity, and response to emerging |
|challenges. To maintain ASEAN’s centrality in the region, the Association needs to strengthen unity, maintain a common position and voice on regional and |
|international issues of common concern and interest of partners and ASEAN. |
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|Significant obstacles and challenges are awaiting ASEAN on its journey ahead. However, ASEAN has the common desire and interest in maintaining an environment|
|of peace, stability for shared development and the experience and maturity earned in the past 45 years. It has the spirit of solidarity and ability to adopt |
|flexible responses. This gives us the ground to solidly believe in the success of ASEAN in achieving its goal regardless of obstacles and challenges. |
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|During the past 17 years, as an ASEAN member and at the new development stage of the Association, Vietnam always remains active, proactive and acts |
|responsibly in contributing to the making of a strong, united, integrated ASEAN with an increasing role and position in the region and the world for the |
|prosperous development of its member countries, peace, stability and cooperation in the region. ASEAN has been and will be an important pillar in Vietnam’s |
|foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations. |
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|On the occasion of ASEAN’s 45th anniversary, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Governments and |
|people of other member countries in the ASEAN family and of partners of ASEAN. |
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|May ASEAN continue to see sustained growth and greater successes given the remarkable achievements recorded in the past 45 years and deliver a life of peace,|
|wellbeing and prosperity for all people in the region./. |
|VNA |