Vietnam reaffirms ASEAN as top foreign policy priority
VOV.VN - Vietnam considers ASEAN its top foreign policy priority and remains committed to working with other member states to build a united, resilient and forward-looking ASEAN Community, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu, the Philippines, on January 29.
Trung said Vietnam strongly supports the priorities set by the Philippines as ASEAN Chair in 2026 and stands ready to contribute to maintaining regional momentum and effectively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
He stressed the need for ASEAN to strengthen unity, uphold its centrality, deepen intra-bloc cooperation and enhance strategic autonomy in the face of an increasingly complex regional and global environment.
The minister also announced that Vietnam will host the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2026) in the second quarter of 2026, and invited ASEAN member states to send high-level representatives to attend the event.
The retreat, the first major activity marking the start of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, was hosted by Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and attended by Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretary-General.
According to Lazaro, the ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation in Myanmar, the East Sea (known internationally as South China Sea), Cambodia–Thailand tensions and emerging challenges.
On Myanmar, ASEAN reaffirmed that the Five-Point Consensus is the main reference for addressing the political crisis and underscored the importance of supporting a peaceful, inclusive and credible general election.
Regarding the South China Sea, the ministers reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation, and called for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministers also expressed support for Cambodia and Thailand in implementing the December 27, 2025 ceasefire agreement and continuing dialogue towards a long-term solution.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Le Hoai Trung held separate talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
Vietnam joins efforts to shape ASEAN’s tourism future
VOV.VN - Vietnam has reaffirmed its strong support for and commitment to actively implementing the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026–2030, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong at the 2026 ASEAN Tourism Conference in Cebu, the Philippines, on January 29.
