Opening of the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports

VHO - On the morning of October 16, in Hanoi, the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS-8) and related meetings in 2025 opened. Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh attended and delivered a speech. Also attending were member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chairman of the Vietnam Olympic Committee Nguyen Van Hung; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong.

The conference was held on the morning of October 16 in Hanoi.

Speaking at the Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that throughout the journey of formation and development of ASEAN, sports have become a bridge of friendship, solidarity and development. From SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games to sports exchange programs, all have contributed to connecting the hearts of ASEAN people, nurturing the spirit of "One Vision - One Identity - One Community".

The Deputy Prime Minister also said that he was pleased to see that in 2025, under the theme "Inclusiveness and Sustainability", ASEAN continued to give high priority to enhancing cooperation on youth and sports and achieved important results.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh speaks at the Conference

Many youth and sports exchange activities have been organized, contributing to strengthening solidarity and cohesion among people of different countries as well as laying the foundation for the development of a sports ecosystem in the region.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung delivered the opening speech at the Conference.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that after more than half a century of formation and development, the ASEAN Community has affirmed its position as a united, dynamic, creative region, responding flexibly to challenges and difficulties; where member countries join hands to build a future of peace, stability and sustainable development.

In that process, sports are not only a physical activity, but also a common language of faith, determination and human aspiration; sports help us overcome the boundaries of differences, to move towards common values: fairness, solidarity and respect; sports are a bridge of friendship and understanding, sharing, cooperation and mutual assistance among nations.

Vietnam is an active member of ASEAN; Vietnam wishes to join ASEAN countries in the spirit of sports, share visions and foster cooperation for the common development of the region. The organization of the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports has a particularly profound meaning.

This is an opportunity for us to strengthen solidarity and unify awareness of the role of sports in social and human development; a milestone opening a new phase of cooperation in regional sports in the context of ASEAN moving towards the ASEAN Cooperation Strategy for the period 2026-2030, orienting the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; expanding the connection of sports with the fields of culture, tourism, education and creativity, creating new momentum for sustainable development and community cohesion.

Vietnam pledges to closely coordinate, cooperate fully and responsibly and accompany member countries and partners to effectively implement common programs and initiatives, contributing to the comprehensive and sustainable development of ASEAN sports with its own identity.

"In the spirit of cooperation, friendship and high responsibility, I believe that the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports will achieve many practical results. We will adopt a progress report on the implementation of documents during Vietnam's term as Chair, and the Final Report on the Summary of the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports for the period 2021-2025; we will affirm a common vision: ASEAN sports is not only a symbol of physical strength, but also a bond that connects souls, nurturing the spirit of peace, understanding and sustainable prosperity for the region," the Minister said.

At the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Leaders are expected to adopt a Declaration on the Use of Sports to Prevent Violent Extremism, affirming the important role of sports in contributing to maintaining peace, inclusiveness and sustainability in the region.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong (second from left) attended the Conference

"Today's 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports will continue the successes of previous meetings, opening a new phase of cooperation with a long-term vision - for a healthy, dynamic, inclusive and sustainably developed ASEAN," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister also informed the countries in the region that Vietnam's consistent viewpoint is to take people as the center, subject, goal, resource, and driving force of development. The strategy for developing physical education and sports in Vietnam to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identifies: Building a sustainable and professional physical education and sports foundation. All people have access to and enjoy physical education and sports services; voluntarily practice to improve health, fitness, and quality of life.

The conference will provide many important directions for regional sports development.

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam and ASEAN countries have built many cooperation mechanisms, in which sports cooperation has always been a close, practical field and one of the fields with the most far-reaching influence.

Vietnam is proud to host the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports, considering this both an honor and a great responsibility, and an opportunity for Vietnam to make more practical contributions to shaping policies, strategies and development directions of regional sports in the coming time.

With the spirit of “Solidarity, cooperation, sustainable development”, Vietnam hopes that this Conference will not only stop at exchanging experiences, but also exchange specific measures to implement the goals and priorities on sports and health development for people as stated in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, thereby opening a new phase of cooperation, deeper, more effective and having a real impact on the lives and health of ASEAN people.

The host country introduced its unique culture at the opening ceremony.

"The theme of this Conference is: "Orientation of Sports for Sustainable Development" - demonstrating ASEAN's progressive thinking and strategic vision, as well as responding to the theme of Inclusiveness and Sustainability of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2025. Sustainability is not only about economic development - but also about human development, community development, social development in harmony with nature; and sports - more than ever - is the way to realize that goal," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

He also hoped that the Conference would focus on discussing, sharing and agreeing on some key orientations on sports for all; smart and creative sports; green, clean and sustainable sports; strengthening international cooperation between ASEAN and its partners to build a transparent and modern sports ecosystem; preserving and promoting the value of traditional sports so that sports are not only strength but also the preservation of identity, pride and soul of each nation in ASEAN, of the entire ASEAN Community united, unified in diversity and mutual respect.

Immediately after the opening session, Minister Nguyen Van Hung chaired the meetings of AMMS-8.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/khai-mac-hoi-nghi-bo-truong-asean-ve-the-thao-lan-thu-8-175059.html