Vietnam outlines priorities for stronger ASEAN-US strategic partnership

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung made the proposals at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States in Manila, the Philippines, on July 22, held on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings.

Speaking at the event, Trung welcomed the United States' continued commitment to peace, stability and development in the region, while calling on both sides to finalise and effectively implement a new comprehensive work programme to carry out the ASEAN-United States Leaders’ Joint Vision Statement.

On economic cooperation, Vietnam proposed promoting open, transparent and mutually beneficial trade and investment and expanding collaboration in high-value sectors, including the digital economy, AI, semiconductors, science and technology, innovation, energy transition and regional energy connectivity.

The minister also called for continued US support for Mekong sub-regional cooperation, particularly in water resource management, climate change adaptation, sustainable infrastructure and human resource development.

Addressing regional and international issues, Trung stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability, resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, and preserving freedom of navigation.

He welcomed continued US support for ASEAN's principled position on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) and called for continued cooperation in promoting an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at its centre.

Regarding the Middle East, the Vietnamese diplomat urged all parties to promote dialogue, restore safe maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz and ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

At the meeting, the ministers noted that the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to expand following the completion of the 2021-2025 Plan of Action. Both sides agreed to finalise a new comprehensive work programme and prepare activities marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-US dialogue relations in 2027, including the possibility of a commemorative summit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States' support for ASEAN centrality, calling Southeast Asia one of the world's key growth engines and an important region for US strategic interests.

Rubio said Washington would continue supporting ASEAN in areas including resilient supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, energy transition, power grid connectivity and civil nuclear energy cooperation.

The ministers also agreed to deepen cooperation in education, human resource development, healthcare and disaster management while accelerating projects under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). They pledged to strengthen cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges, including terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking and online scams.

ASEAN also welcomed continued US participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms and took note of a proposal to develop an ASEAN-US leaders' statement on 10 public-private principles for combating online scams.

Vietnam proposes four measures to strengthen ASEAN solidarity, resilience

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, put forward four proposals to strengthen ASEAN’s solidarity, resilience and connectivity while addressing the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-59), which opened in Manila on July 21.