VOV.VN - Vietnam and other ASEAN member states are working with Japan to chart a new course for bilateral cooperation, focusing on practical, future-oriented initiatives that address emerging regional and global challenges.
Priority areas include economic resilience, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor development, supply chain resilience, energy security, and green growth.
The issues were examined at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Japan in Manila, the Philippines, on July 22, as part of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings.
The ministers reaffirmed that ASEAN and Japan enjoy a long-standing partnership built on equality, mutual trust, practical cooperation, and mutual respect. They agreed to further strengthen the ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in ways that deliver tangible benefits to their people while contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
ASEAN countries described Japan as one of the bloc's most trusted partners, recognising its long-standing contributions to the development of ASEAN member states and to ASEAN Community-building. Meanwhile, Japan reaffirmed its enduring commitment to Southeast Asia under its ‘heart-to-heart’ partnership, expressing continued support for ASEAN centrality and the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Addressing the conference, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung stressed that ASEAN-Japan relations have become increasingly important amid rapidly evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics. He noted that the partnership serves not only the shared interests of ASEAN and Japan but also contributes to building an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture.
Looking ahead, the Vietnamese diplomat proposed three strategic priorities for the next phase of ASEAN-Japan cooperation.
The first priority is to strengthen economic security and resilience, with greater cooperation in strategic sectors such as resilient supply chains, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, semiconductors, and energy security. These areas, he said, are essential for enhancing the resilience of regional economies amid global uncertainties.
Second, ASEAN and Japan should jointly build a safe and future-ready digital economy, leveraging Japan’s strengths in innovation and advanced technology to expand cooperation in AI, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and high-quality human resource development.
Minister Trung also highlighted the importance of effectively implementing initiatives such as the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Initiative for Artificial. Intelligence (AI), the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework, and the Hanoi Convention against Cybercrime, which Vietnam considers important mechanisms for promoting secure digital development and international cooperation.
The third priority is to accelerate cooperation toward a green and sustainable future, including renewable energy, smart power grids, and sustainable infrastructure development. Vietnam also encouraged greater use of Japanese initiatives such as the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) to support regional green transition efforts.
Beyond these emerging areas, ASEAN and Japan agreed to deepen economic integration by effectively implementing and upgrading trade frameworks including the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The two sides also pledged to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, non-traditional security challenges, people-to-people exchanges, and human resource development.
ASEAN welcomed Japan's continued support for regional digital transformation, energy security, and climate adaptation through initiatives including AZEC, the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Initiative for Artificial. Intelligence, and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0.
Discussing regional and international issues, Minister Le Hoai Trung reaffirmed the shared interest of ASEAN and Japan in maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea, and other maritime areas. He underscored the importance of upholding international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Built upon decades of trust and strengthened by new cooperation in strategic sectors, the ASEAN-Japan partnership is expected to continue expanding in depth and substance, contributing to a peaceful, stable, open, and sustainable Indo-Pacific region.
VOV.VN - Vietnam has proposed expanding ASEAN-US cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and clean energy as the two sides seek to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
VOV.VN - Vietnam has vowed to work closely with other ASEAN member states and Russia to deepen the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership as it prepares to assume the role of country coordinator for ASEAN-Russia relations during the 2027-2030 period.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung welcomed India's continued recognition of ASEAN as one of the pillars of its Act East Policy, saying the partnership not only advances the interests of both sides but also contributes to peace, stability and development across the region.
.JPG&w=640&q=100)
Bình luận
Bình luận của bạn sẽ được xét duyệt trước khi đăng