Vietnam—ASEAN Cooperation in Southeast Asia

SINCE THE EARLY 1970S, THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) HAS WORKED TO PROMOTE PEACE, STABILITY AND COOPERATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND THE POLITICAL REFORMS STARTED BY THE 6TH CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM (DECEMBER 1986) HAS ENABLED ASEAN AND VIETNAM TO MOVE TO NEW LEVELS OF AMITY AND COOPERATION. AFTER SEVERAL DECADES OF CONFRONTATION, VIETNAM NOW FEELS MORE RELAXED ON ITS SOUTHERN BORDERS. YET, VARIOUS ISSUES REMAIN TO BE SETTLED IN VIETNAM-ASEAN RELATIONS INCLUDING OVERLAPPING SEA ZONES BETWEEN VIETNAM, INDONESIA, AND THAILAND, FISHING, THE MEKONG RIVER, AND DECADES-OLD MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND SUSPICIONS. THE FORTHCOMING PERIOD SHOULD BE ONE OF INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ON REGIONAL AND BILATERAL ISSUES, AND INCREASING BILATERAL COOPERATION. PEACEFUL AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN VIETNAM AND ITS NEIGHBORS WILL CREATE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR VIETNAM'S INTERNAL REFORMS WHICH WILL, IN TURN, STRENGTHEN VIETNAM'S COMMITTMENT TO THE CAUSE OF REGIONAL COOPERATION AND SECURITY.