A self-reliant, connected and far-reaching ASEAN

The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, held in Vientiane, Laos, have concluded. Authorized by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Vietnam's ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Leader, attended the meetings and provided a report on the results of the Vietnamese delegation's participation.

Một ASEAN tự cường, kết nối và vươn tầm rộng lớn

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Head of Vietnam's ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM).

Could the Deputy Minister please elaborate on the main outcomes of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-57) and related meetings?

Taking place over four days with 20 activities, the AMM-57 and related meetings left a lasting impression of a connected and resilient ASEAN. Participating countries highly appreciated the leadership role of the Lao Chair and supported ASEAN's priorities for 2024.

In terms of connectivity, this interconnectedness is clearly reflected in every activity. The countries emphasize solidarity and trust as prerequisites for ASEAN's success. For Vietnam in particular, this conference also represents the sincere and touching sentiments of the countries towards us at a time when the whole nation mourns the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The statement of condolences from ASEAN Senior Leaders on July 24th is a profound and meaningful testament to this.

In ASEAN's relations with its partners, cohesion is demonstrated through efforts to expand cooperation in areas such as the digital economy , green transformation, supply chain resilience, as well as strengthening regional connectivity in infrastructure, institutions, and people. In this direction, many documents and initiatives have been promoted on this occasion, such as the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Statement on Enhancing Connectivity, the ASEAN-India Digital Future Fund, the Green Initiative, and the ASEAN-EU Sustainable Connectivity Package…

The conferences also clearly demonstrated efforts to promote ASEAN's connectivity and broader reach. ASEAN's principles and norms of conduct continued to be upheld, affirming ASEAN's role and contributions both regionally and globally. The ASEAN Future Forum 2024, hosted by Vietnam in April 2024, was highly appreciated by participating countries, not only for its contribution to strengthening regional integration but also for its role in the upcoming United Nations Future Summit in September, linking the region's common concerns with those of the world.

Regarding self-reliance, countries emphasized the strategic importance of enhancing self-reliance in the current complex and unpredictable context. Increased strategic competition among major powers, complex developments in many places, the emergence of numerous global issues, and the appearance of many new technologies have multifaceted impacts on regions, nations, and the lives of their people.

The answer to all the questions raised lies in two words: "self-reliance," which is also ASEAN's ability and capacity to overcome the vicissitudes of the times. Self-reliance to proactively respond to challenges, self-reliance to readily seize opportunities, and self-reliance to remain resilient in the face of difficulties. With this crucial meaning, "self-reliance" and "connectivity" will be consistently reflected in the cooperation strategies implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet (fifth from the left) attends the 25th ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Could the Deputy Minister please elaborate on the contributions of the Vietnamese delegation at the Conference?

As our senior leaders have repeatedly affirmed, Vietnam supports and assists Laos in assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. In that spirit, the Vietnamese delegation is participating in these conferences with a proactive, positive, and responsible attitude, contributing to the common goal.

Firstly, we need to strengthen the ASEAN Community building process, complete the 2025 Master Plans on schedule, and work towards cooperation strategies up to 2045. On this occasion, we announced that we will hold a regional consultation to review the 2025 Master Plans in order to draw lessons learned and improve the quality of implementation in the future. Our plan to continue implementing the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 initiative in Vietnam has been well received and appreciated by other countries.

Secondly, together with ASEAN countries and partners, we will review and reorient our relations. We will focus on exploiting the vast remaining areas of cooperation, emphasizing areas of common interest to all countries and current major trends. This includes prioritizing economic cooperation, effectively utilizing FTAs, promoting new growth drivers, and diversifying forms of people-to-people exchanges. We also propose that partners actively participate in and contribute to regional cooperation, promoting dialogue, trust, and respect for ASEAN's central role.

Thirdly, shaping ASEAN's direction in the context of the current instability, insecurity, uncertainty, and unpredictability. Accordingly, we have proposed an approach for ASEAN based on four elements: strategic vision, unwavering solidarity, central role, and concrete action. We have, together with other countries, affirmed ASEAN's principled stance on international and regional issues, emphasizing the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and creating a favorable environment for negotiations on a quality, effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, consistent with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We have requested partners to support ASEAN's position on the South China Sea as well as ASEAN's efforts to build the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation held bilateral meetings with many countries to discuss issues of mutual interest and promote cooperation in various fields.

The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings have concluded, further strengthening the foundation for regional cooperation. This is also an important preparatory step towards the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings to be held in Vientiane, Laos, in October this year.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!

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