Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong: Vietnam actively promotes ASEAN's spirit of solidarity, responsibility and central role
WVR - On the occasion of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' activities in Thailand and the Philippines, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, shared with The World and Vietnam Report the significance, focus of the meetings, and Vietnam's participation.
Latest
 |
| The informal meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Myanmar's Foreign Minister, chaired by Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, ASEAN Chair 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 12, 2026. (Photo: Bao Chi) |
How does the Ambassador assess the significance of promoting dialogue and reconciliation in Myanmar within the framework of the expanded informal consultations at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers level this time? What message does this effort convey about ASEAN's spirit of solidarity and regional peace promotion?
The informal consultation on July 12 marked the first direct high-level contact between ASEAN and Myanmar's government since 2021. Held just before the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, it was an opportunity for ASEAN member states to exchange and update on developments in Myanmar, seeking ways to coordinate and effectively support Myanmar in the coming time, practically implementing the Five-Point Consensus.
 |
| Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong (Photo: Chu Van) |
This effort continues to affirm ASEAN's message of solidarity, responsibility, and central role in promoting sustainable, long-term solutions in Myanmar. ASEAN's consistent goal is to support a process led and owned by Myanmar for peace, national reconciliation, stability, and development for the people of Myanmar.
The approach through dialogue, with the Five-Point Consensus as the main framework, focusing on specific, practical steps, considers Myanmar as an inseparable member of ASEAN, demonstrating the determination and desire of ASEAN countries for substantial progress to stabilize the situation in Myanmar, for the common security and stability of the region.
What is the significance of the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting during ASEAN's crucial development phase in 2026, after the 48th Summit and towards the 49th Summit, as well as amidst the complex regional and global situation, Ambassador?
The annual ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) plays an important role, providing an opportunity for Ministers to discuss and promote the specific implementation of directions agreed upon by ASEAN Leaders from the beginning of the year, address emerging issues that ASEAN needs to respond to, and propose directions for cooperation for the next phase to report to ASEAN Leaders at the second summit of the year. AMM meetings also gather the participation of all ASEAN partners, exchanging cooperation relations and issues of mutual concern related to peace, stability, and development in the region.
With that role, the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be even more significant in the first year of ASEAN implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and in the context of ASEAN striving to navigate through increasing volatility and uncertainty in the regional and international environment.
At this meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will join partners in solemnly commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC, 1976-2026). After five decades, the principles outlined in the TAC, committed to by 58 countries participating in the TAC, will continue to be emphasised as foundational principles for inter-state relations, contributing to strengthening peace, security, stability, and cooperative development in the region.
At the meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers will exchange and comprehensively assess emerging international and regional issues, thereby consolidating consensus and unifying ASEAN's common stance. This will be reflected in the Joint Communiqué of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the most important document of the meeting, expressing ASEAN's unified views on a range of strategic issues, from ASEAN Community building, foreign relations, to prominent security, economic, and social issues of the region and the world.
The Ministerial meetings between ASEAN and partners are also notable highlights at AMM sessions. These exchanges not only enhance understanding and share views on issues of mutual concern but also identify directions and priority areas for cooperation in the near future, thereby continuing to strengthen ASEAN's central role in the shaping regional architecture. This year's meeting will also consider and decide on some important content related to expanding the association's partnership relations.
Could the Ambassador share Vietnam's contributions within the framework of this ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the overarching message?
After 30 years as an active, proactive, and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam is joining other member countries in entering a new development phase of ASEAN, aiming to realize a resilient, innovative, dynamic ASEAN Community centered on people, as guided by the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Vietnam's contributions to ASEAN in general and at the 59th AMM will focus on two main aspects: strengthening solidarity, unity, and ASEAN's central role, enhancing effective response capacity to emerging challenges; while also boosting substantive, effective cooperation within ASEAN and with partners, promoting regional integration processes to support the development goals of each member country.
The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 aligns with Vietnam's important development goals towards the 100th anniversary of the country's founding. Vietnam's participation in the new context will be linked with practical synergy and support between ASEAN's cooperation programs and Vietnam's efforts to achieve high growth and sustainable development goals.
Vietnam will also continue to actively undertake rotating tasks in ASEAN at the 59th AMM, including coordinating ASEAN-UK and ASEAN-New Zealand relations for the 2024-2027 period. These are two partnerships that have seen many positive developments recently, with New Zealand becoming ASEAN's Comprehensive Strategic Partner in 2025 and ASEAN and the United Kingdom celebrating five years of establishing the Dialogue Partnership. As coordinator, Vietnam will lead negotiations on important documents, including the ASEAN-UK Action Plan for 2027-2031, the ASEAN-UK Statement on cooperation within the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and the ASEAN-New Zealand Statement on Enhancing Regional Resilience. These documents not only reaffirm the commitment to cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, emphasize multilateral cooperation and adherence to international law, but also open up specific, practical cooperation directions to meet the needs of ASEAN and its partners in the coming period.
Implementing the goal of "Developing foreign relations in the new era" of the 14th National Party Congress, Vietnam's participation and contributions in ASEAN and at the 59th AMM series will reflect a new image and stance of Vietnam, commensurate with the country's historical, cultural stature, and position.
Thank you, Ambassador!
