Vietnam affirms its proactive role in building the ASEAN Community 2045.

On December 9, Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of ASEAN-Vietnam SOM Dang Hoang Giang chaired an inter-sectoral meeting to review the cooperation situation, Vietnam's participation in 2025 and orientations for 2026. Nearly 60 delegates representing ministries and sectors attended.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of ASEAN-Vietnam SOM, Dang Hoang Giang, chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to review the cooperation situation, Vietnam's participation in 2025, and directions for 2026. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Assessing the results of ASEAN cooperation over the past year, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that 2025 is a successful year for ASEAN with many historical milestones. Based on the great achievements and remarkable developments in the process of building the Community, ASEAN established a strategic framework for cooperation in the next 20 years, with the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the Strategies on politics -security, economics, culture-society and connectivity, towards building a self-reliant, creative, dynamic and people-centered ASEAN. The decision to officially admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member marks a new development step of ASEAN after nearly 30 years, helping to expand the geographical scope, development space and increase the collective strength of ASEAN.

Economic, trade and investment linkages continue to be strengthened through upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, developing the ASEAN Sustainable Investment Guidelines and basically concluding negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement. Cooperation between ASEAN and development partners has developed strongly and substantially, including ASEAN establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with New Zealand, upgrading FTAs ​​with China, South Korea and India, putting FTAs ​​with Australia and New Zealand into effect, and accelerating and completing FTA negotiations with Canada in 2026. The role and value of ASEAN are increasingly valued, considered a symbol of dialogue and cooperation for peace , security and development.

Assessing the results of ASEAN cooperation over the past year, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that 2025 is a successful year for ASEAN with many historical milestones. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

For Vietnam, 2025 is an opportunity to look back on three decades of accompanying ASEAN and shape the direction for the future. From the first "baby steps", Vietnam is now an indispensable member, making important contributions to the common success of the Association.

In 2025, many activities of Vietnam's Senior Leaders within the framework of ASEAN were successfully organized, demonstrating Vietnam's highest political commitment to ASEAN cooperation. Implementing the commitments of the Senior Leaders, Vietnam and other countries promoted the completion of the implementation of the Master Plans on Community Building 2025 and the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, successfully assuming many important responsibilities such as Chairing the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force, organizing the meeting of the Working Group on the development of the Socio-Cultural Strategy...; chairing and promoting the adoption of many initiatives, including the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on strengthening the arrest of wanted criminals, 7 Resolutions of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly... The ASEAN Future Forum was successfully organized for the second consecutive year, gradually becoming a "brand", creating a space for multi-dimensional and open exchanges on many essential issues for the future of ASEAN and the region.

Director of ASEAN Department Tran Duc Binh reported on the summary of cooperation situation, Vietnam's participation in 2025 and orientation for 2026. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Discussing the orientations for participating in ASEAN cooperation in 2026, the ministries and branches agreed to continue promoting the role of proactive, active and responsible members, contributing to maintaining solidarity, unity and consolidating a favorable strategic environment for development, making efforts to resolve hotspots in the region, implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Cooperation Strategies, building a legal framework for ASEAN cooperation, promoting regional economic cooperation and linkages, especially in current strategic areas of both ASEAN and Vietnam such as infrastructure connectivity, supply chain connectivity, energy connectivity, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, green economy..., enhancing ASEAN's institutional capacity and synchronous coordination between AIPA and the Government in promoting regional cooperation initiatives.

In addition, continue to thoroughly grasp and implement Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo on orientations for participation in ASEAN cooperation until 2030, especially proactively proposing and effectively implementing initiatives, integrating regional cooperation contents with national focus to mobilize more resources for national development, perfecting the apparatus and coordination mechanism between agencies participating in ASEAN cooperation, successfully organizing the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 to continue demonstrating Vietnam's role in contributing to the future of the region.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-khang-dinh-vai-tro-chu-dong-xay-dung-cong-dong-asean-2045-337180.html