Building a united and united ASEAN Community continues to be the main stream of regional cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son at the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

At the meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their deepest condolences to the Party, State and people of Vietnam on the passing of formerPresident Tran Duc Luong. The Ministers respectfully acknowledged the former President’s important contributions to the cause of reform and development in Vietnam, and to promoting Vietnam’s integration process.

Preparing for the ASEAN Summits to take place from May 26-27, the Malaysian Chairman said that the organization work has been completed.

The Ministers reviewed and agreed to submit the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on “ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future” to the ASEAN Leaders for signature and approval, highly appreciating the efforts of the High-Level Task Force to complete the ASEAN 2045 “document package” on schedule, demonstrating ASEAN’s proactive and leading spirit in the new development phase.

Reviewing the 2016-2025 Community Building Blueprints, the Ministers stressed the need to build on lessons learned over the past 10 years. Faced with the current complex dynamics, more than ever, ASEAN needs to strengthen its solidarity and centrality, assert a strong common voice, and enhance the effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms.

The conference agreed on the need to strongly promote the value of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of this document in 2026.

The Ministers proposed to urgently concretize Vision 2045 and strategies, develop cooperation programs in each field, and prioritize improving ASEAN's response capacity to non-traditional security challenges.

The Ministers also agreed to deepen intra-bloc trade and investment, exploit the potential of science and technology, digital economy , green economy, and expand connections with partners on the basis of mutual benefit.

ASEAN's external relations continue to be strengthened and expanded, through existing cooperation frameworks, contributing to strengthening an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at the center.

The conference acknowledged the development of action programs for the 2026-2030 period with many partners, emphasizing the need to link foreign policy implementation priorities with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and placing expectations on new, substantive developments in relations with partners.

Overview of the Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The Ministers had in-depth discussions on the international and regional situation, continued to consolidate ASEAN's principled stance, emphasized the need to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon complete an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and affirmed the importance of fully and effectively implementing the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.

The countries acknowledged Timor-Leste's efforts in implementing the Roadmap to become an official member of ASEAN, welcomed the official operation of the Timor-Leste Section at the ASEAN Secretariat and approved the Guidelines on procedures for participating in ASEAN legal documents.

On this occasion, the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) Commission adopted the Annex to amend the SEANWFZ Treaty, creating a legal basis for countries to implement the approval procedure for Timor-Leste to join the Treaty, while strongly demonstrating ASEAN's commitment to realizing a Southeast Asia region free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his gratitude for the sentiments and condolences of countries upon the passing of former President Tran Duc Luong.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister highly appreciated the role of the Malaysian Chair in leading the regional cooperation process at an important turning point for ASEAN. Today's context, with more difficulties and challenges than before, requires ASEAN and its member countries to continue to stand side by side, giving the highest priority to the process of building the Community.

The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and new cooperation strategies will be the framework for ASEAN to act together, proactively adapt and reach out for development. ASEAN needs to strengthen its autonomy and self-reliance, especially economic self-reliance, to withstand external shocks. ASEAN's external relations need to pursue a consistent approach, with a focus on ASEAN's long-term strategic priorities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son takes a group photo with ASEAN Foreign Ministers. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The complex developments of new security challenges have created an urgent need to strengthen cooperation at the regional and global levels. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister informed and hoped that countries would support and participate in the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention on Cybercrime at the end of October 2025 in Hanoi. Vietnam also proposed to develop an ASEAN Declaration on enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation in the pursuit of wanted criminals, gradually making ASEAN a model for cooperation in the prevention of transnational crimes.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, together with the countries, discussed and reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on international and regional issues, highly appreciated ASEAN, under the leadership of the Malaysian Chair, for promptly supporting Myanmar after the earthquake disaster; requested relevant parties in Myanmar to end violence and conduct dialogue, join hands in carrying out relief activities and long-term recovery and reconstruction.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister also suggested that ASEAN seek new approaches and measures to implement the Five-Point Consensus more effectively.

Appreciating Timor-Leste’s efforts, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister reaffirmed that Vietnam supports Timor-Leste’s early accession to ASEAN. With 30 years of experience in ASEAN, Vietnam understands and is ready to support Timor-Leste in overcoming difficulties, both in the preparation process and in implementing membership obligations in the first years of joining.

Continuing the working program to prepare for the 46th ASEAN Summit and related Summits, on the afternoon of May 25, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xay-dung-cong-dong-asean-doan-ket-thong-nhat-tiep-tuc-la-dong-chay-chinh-cua-hop-tac-khu-vuc-315462.html