Vietnam proposes measures to promote ASEAN relations with partners

At the ASEAN – China Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Manila, Philippines today, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that China is one of the partners with the most dynamic and comprehensive relationship of ASEAN, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To improve the quality and strategic value of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides, Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed three priorities including promoting high-quality economic integration and enhancing infrastructure connectivity; take innovation and AI as new growth drivers; At the same time, it enhances strategic trust and coordinates responses to non-traditional security challenges.

Regarding the East Sea, the Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation; welcomed the progress in negotiating the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), and called on the parties to soon complete an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that ASEAN continues to be a priority in the country’s neighborhood diplomacy, and reaffirmed his support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure.

According to him, ASEAN – China cooperation is one of the important driving forces promoting peace, stability and development of the region and the world. China will strengthen coordination to promote regional integration, sustainable development and inclusive growth, with focuses including maintaining peace and stability; ensure economic and energy security; promoting technological innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), green growth; and people-centered development.

ASEAN countries appreciate China’s continued support for ASEAN’s central role and active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms. The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination to respond to non-traditional security challenges such as transnational crime, cybercrime, online fraud, terrorism and drug trafficking.

The Conference also welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN-China Action Plan on building a sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem for the period 2026-2030; establishing the ASEAN-China AI Industrial Innovation Center; working towards establishing the ASEAN-China Digital Academy and recognizing the proposal to make 2027 the “Year of ASEAN-China AI Cooperation”.

ASEAN countries appreciate China’s support in promoting the ASEAN Power Network, energy transition and clean energy development. The conference also approved the Joint Statement of the ASEAN – China Foreign Ministers on the regional impact of the Middle East situation and strengthening regional energy cooperation.

This is part of the framework of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 59) and related conferences. At the ASEAN – US Foreign Ministers’ Conference taking place on the same day, Minister Le Hoai Trung highly appreciated the US’s commitment to regional peace, stability and development.

Regarding economic cooperation, Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed that the two sides promote open, transparent and mutually beneficial trade and investment, strengthen cooperation in the fields of digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, science – technology, innovation, energy conversion and regional energy connection.

ASEAN Ministers appreciated the US commitment to support ASEAN’s central role and actively participate in ASEAN-led mechanisms, and also noted the proposal to develop the ASEAN-US Leaders’ Declaration on “10 public-private principles in preventing and combating online fraud”.

Speaking at the ASEAN – Russia Foreign Ministers’ Conference, Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed that the two sides create a breakthrough in economic cooperation, aiming for a trade target of 45 billion USD by 2035.

The Minister also proposed to soon concretize the ASEAN-Russia Joint Declaration on energy cooperation, which prioritizes the development of strategic fuel storage and reserve facilities, expanding LNG trade, and strengthening cooperation on renewable energy, civil nuclear power and energy saving technology.