Hanoi, July 28 -- As Vietnam marks 30 years of membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 28, New Zealand's Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford praised the country's pivotal contributions to regional unity and global economic integration in a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency.

Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has emerged as a key player in uniting the bloc and deepening its ties with external partners, Beresford said.

Its brainchild, the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF), has quickly become a leading strategic dialogue platform for shaping the bloc's outlook, bringing together leaders, scholars, business and civil society representatives. The forum, she noted, exemplifies Vietnam's commitment and pr...