Vietnam's mark on the regional map

VHO - ASEAN countries increasingly promote the role of sports as a "common language" of peace, solidarity and development.

In Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on football cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Football Federation (FIFA). Previously, Vietnam successfully hosted the 16th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS-16) and the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS-8).

These events show that ASEAN countries increasingly promote the role of sports as a "common language" of peace , solidarity and development.

From AMMS-8 in Hanoi to the ASEAN-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding

With Vietnam successfully hosting SOM-16 and AMMS-8, it can be seen that this is not only a forum to discuss policies and orientations for regional sports development but also an important turning point in cultural diplomacy, demonstrating the use of sports to connect people, expand cooperation and spread the image of a friendly, responsible and trustworthy Vietnam.

Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding on Football Cooperation between ASEAN and FIFA

New statements and agreements (from the AMMS-8 Joint Statement, to the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and ASEAN and the “FIFA ASEAN Cup” initiative) show that sports are becoming a soft pillar of regional cooperation, alongside political, economic and social fields, in which Vietnam plays a prominent role as a proactive, creative and increasingly influential country.

Taking place in Hanoi from October 13 to 17, the SOMS-16 and AMMS-8 conferences gathered about 200 delegates who are Ministers, Deputy Ministers and leaders of sports agencies of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Not only are these technical meetings, they are also a forum for strategic planning for the coming period, agreeing on priorities for developing school sports, enhancing public health, ensuring integrity in sports and expanding cooperation with dialogue partners such as Japan, China, FIFA, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)... Vietnam, as the host, has demonstrated excellent coordination capacity, contributing to shaping the agenda and connecting new initiatives, thereby affirming the image of a safe, professional and regionally visionary destination.

On October 16, the 8th ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting issued a Joint Statement emphasizing the goal of building a “healthy, dynamic and sustainable ASEAN”, considering sports as an educational tool, a bridge for equality and integration. This document also sets out specific tasks such as implementing a new phase of ASEAN-FIFA cooperation, continuing to implement the cooperation framework with WADA on anti-doping and completing the next phase of the ASEAN Sports Action Plan.

The next milestone was the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, marking the extension of the two sides' cooperation for another 5 years and the announcement of the “FIFA ASEAN Cup” initiative - a regional tournament modeled after the Arab Cup for Southeast Asian national teams. The goal of the tournament is to create a highly competitive playground, increase opportunities for competition, attract audiences and expand the sports copyright market, while connecting ASEAN football with the FIFA international competition system.

In the context that many Southeast Asian countries consider football as the core of the sports and entertainment industry, this event promises to be a strong boost for sports economic growth, tourism promotion and regional cooperation. On the integrity axis, ASEAN continues to promote cooperation with WADA, strengthen the anti-doping network, share experts and testing data, to ensure that regional sports develop transparently and comply with international standards. This is not only a technical requirement but also a political and cultural message, affirming ASEAN's commitment to protecting the value of clean and fair sports.

Spreading the image of dynamic Vietnam

From a cultural diplomacy perspective, Vietnam’s hosting and chairing of the ASEAN sports conference series brings many resonant values. First of all, the symbolic value, when Hanoi becomes the center for coordinating regional initiatives, clearly demonstrating Vietnam’s organizational capacity and connecting role in ASEAN. Next is the institutional value, when the documents and agreements approved at the conference create a legal framework for implementing a series of bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs, from developing school sports, training coaches and referees to upgrading standards of facilities and athlete management.

Finally, the socio-economic value, when each regional sporting event brings dual benefits to tourism, services, media and national image promotion. Each opening ceremony, each exchange activity, each image of friendly and hospitable Vietnamese people becomes "soft material" for the national brand. Such cultural "touchpoints" help international friends perceive Vietnam not only through numbers or policies but through vivid, positive and lasting experiences.

However, to turn soft advantages into real competitiveness, Vietnam needs a systematic sports economic development strategy. First of all, it is necessary to quantify the impact of sports events on tourism, services, media and national brand; next is to complete the event supply chain from operations, security, healthcare, image copyright to technical standards; at the same time, promote the public-private partnership model to mobilize social resources for infrastructure, training young talents and organizing events. When these components operate synchronously, Vietnamese sports will better take advantage of opportunities from regional cooperation, especially when the "FIFA ASEAN Cup" comes into reality, opening a new playground for both athletes and the sports economy.

From the meetings in Hanoi to the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, October 2025 marks an important step forward for ASEAN sports and Vietnam’s increasingly prominent role in the journey to create a new space for cooperation. Cultural diplomacy through sports is bringing dual benefits: expanding national influence while strengthening the strength of the regional community.

When commitments such as the AMMS-8 Joint Statement, the ASEAN-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding and ASEAN-WADA cooperation are implemented synchronously, sports will not only be a joy in the stands but also become a driving force for a healthy, sustainable and inclusive ASEAN - where Vietnam continues to make its mark as a responsible partner and a trusted destination for international events.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/dau-an-viet-nam-tren-ban-do-khu-vuc-177720.html