Vietnam yesterday flew the ASEAN flag to mark the 44th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and the 16th anniversary of Vietnam\'s admission to the regional organisation.

Viet Nam flies the ASEAN flag to mark the 44th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and the 16th anniversary of Viet Nam\'s admission to the organisation. — VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

Vietnamese Embassies in Laos, Malaysia and Australia held similar ceremonies organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This follows an ASEAN meeting of foreign ministers in Indonesia earlier this year who decided that, to raise public awareness, member nations hoist the ASEAN flag next to their national flags each year at their diplomatic offices on ASEAN Day (August 8).

In Vientiane, minister Nguyen Van An said that since Vietnam joined the bloc in 1995, it had contributed meaningful opinions to ASEAN activities and the ASEAN charter.

The country had successfully organised many ASEAN conferences as well as the bloc\'s meetings with its partners, and performed particularly well in its role as ASEAN Chair in 2010.

At a ceremony in Malaysia, Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao said the flag hoisting ceremony marked the outstanding progress of the ASEAN bloc as an active player in creating peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

He said he hoped that the development of the ASEAN community as well as the relationship between Vietnam and Malaysia would become stronger.

In Canberra, Ambassador Hoang Vinh Thanh said the ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony was a symbol of unity, solidarity, and co-operation among ASEAN member countries - and comprehensive co-operation between ASEAN and Australia, one of the bloc\'s dialogue partners.

To mark the occasion, the embassies of ASEAN member countries in Vietnam also hoisted the ASEAN flag.

The ASEAN Secretariat organised a ceremony in Jakarta to celebrate the anniversary.