Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnessed the signing ceremony of the ASEAN-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation.

On the afternoon of October 26, within the framework of the 47th ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ASEAN countries witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Football Federation (FIFA).

Under the authorization of the ASEAN Leaders, the ASEAN Secretary General signed the ASEAN-FIFA MOU with the FIFA President, officially launching the next 5-year cooperation period, following the success of the first signed document in 2019.

Signing ceremony of the ASEAN-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation (Photo: VNA)

This new Memorandum of Understanding is a framework agreement, expressing the intention of long-term cooperation, focusing on 5 updated pillars to suit the new situation including: Promoting Integrity in Sport (anti-corruption, match-fixing, anti-doping); Sport for Socio -Economic Development (promoting healthy lifestyles, community integration); Developing football on and off the pitch (stadium security, expansion of the “FIFA Schools Football” – F4S” programme); Promoting Inclusiveness in and through Football (empowering women, girls and people with disabilities); and an important new content: Sport and Climate Change.

Immediately after the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a quick meeting with FIFA President Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino. At the meeting with the FIFA President, the Prime Minister highly appreciated FIFA's support for Vietnamese sports in recent times. The Prime Minister also asked FIFA to support Vietnam in establishing a modern youth football academy and hoped that FIFA would act as a bridge, strengthening the connection with Italian football to develop professional football.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a quick meeting with FIFA President Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino.

The Prime Minister also assigned specific tasks to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including inviting the FIFA President to Vietnam in the near future to witness the groundbreaking of several important sports projects in Vietnam.

The signing of the new phase of the MOU and the deeper cooperation commitments that have just been achieved are expected to continue to create leverage, helping to improve expertise, develop grassroots football and strengthen the position of Vietnamese football in particular and ASEAN in general in the international arena.

Speaking at the event, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN Chair 2025, emphasized the great significance of this document: "The signing of the MOU shows FIFA's clear and strong commitment to supporting ASEAN in developing sports at all levels, from sports for all, youth sports to high-performance sports."

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also stressed the bloc’s responsibility to “provide players with opportunities to compete and practice”, affirming ASEAN’s commitment to making the most of this valuable support and sending congratulations for the successful cooperation between the two sides.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-chung-kien-le-ky-ban-ghi-nho-hop-tac-asean-fifa-20251026193436575.htm