A year of adjustment for Vietnamâs ASEAN plans 08:00 | 01/01/2021 Despite the health crisis, the year has elapsed with Vietnam as ASEAN chair driving the bloc forward with further trade and investment connectivity via many inked initiatives, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This has helped lay the foundation for the region to materialise its vision for a more affluent ASEAN over the next five years. The signing ceremony of the RCEP marks the beginning of one of the largest free trade agreements in the world The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic has done much to upset Vietnamâs 2018 and 2019 preparations for taking ASEANâs chairmanship role this year. While all member states focused resources on protecting their people, the question was whether or not nations would, or could, continue with the commitments to pursue the long-term goals of developing the ASEAN Community.