ASEAN is Vietnam's top priority in foreign policy, committed to building a united and strong community
WVR - On January 29, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat took place in Cebu, Philippines, officially launching the ASEAN Year 2026.
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| The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat 2026 took place in the Philippines. |
This is the first significant activity in the ASEAN Chairmanship year of the Philippines, chaired by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, with the participation of Foreign Ministers from member countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Politburo Member and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
During the meeting, ASEAN Ministers highly appreciated the theme “Steering a Common Future” for the ASEAN Chairmanship 2026 of the Philippines, along with priorities to strengthen peace and security, expand prosperous corridors, and promote empowerment for the people.
The countries affirmed their support and close coordination with the Philippines in implementing the year's priorities, thereby maintaining the momentum of regional cooperation and integration, and contributing effectively to the ASEAN Vision 2045.
ASEAN Ministers shared their assessment that the international and regional landscape is witnessing profound changes, with increasing strategic competition among major powers, armed conflicts in various places, and increasingly complex transnational challenges.
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| Overview of the Meeting.. |
In this context, the Ministers emphasized that ASEAN needs to continue strengthening unity, enhancing its central role, and boosting intra-bloc cooperation, resilience, and strategic autonomy. At the same time, ASEAN should expand and deepen relations with partners to create space for cooperation and mobilize resources for building the ASEAN Community.
Engaging in extensive discussions on international and regional issues, including the East Sea, Myanmar, Cambodia-Thailand tensions, and emerging challenges, the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building a peaceful, stable, and cooperative East Sea, aiming to complete the Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982. They also continued to support Myanmar in finding solutions to the current situation based on the Five-Point Consensus, promoting dialogue and reconciliation among relevant parties, maintaining humanitarian support, and addressing non-traditional security challenges. The Ministers supported Cambodia and Thailand in seriously implementing the ceasefire agreement of December 27, 2025, maintaining consultations and dialogue, and working towards a long-term solution in line with international law and ASEAN's fundamental principles.
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| Politburo Member and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung attending the Meeting. |
Speaking at the meeting, Politburo Member and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung shared the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, emphasizing Vietnam's consistent policy on strategic self-reliance, inclusive and sustainable development, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition, in line with the goals of the ASEAN Vision 2045.
The Foreign Minister affirmed that ASEAN remains a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy, and Vietnam is committed to working with other countries to build a united and strong ASEAN Community.
Welcoming the theme and priorities for 2026 set by the Philippines, and appreciating the achievements of Malaysia's Chairmanship in 2025, the Foreign Minister emphasized that ASEAN needs to continue strengthening unity and its central role, upholding international law, multilateralism, and core principles.
Amid rapid and complex global and regional changes, the Minister stated that ASEAN needs to “anticipate change” with “a spirit of solidarity, strategic vision, and joint action”. In this spirit, the Minister proposed that ASEAN review and improve mechanisms for building trust, preventing, and resolving disputes, while also studying the establishment of a consultation mechanism among legal advisors on international law.
Besides the political-security pillar, the Foreign Minister suggested that ASEAN should promote deep integration and innovation, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity, leveraging new growth drivers such as green transition, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, prioritizing the early completion of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), and strengthening supply chains.
Additionally, ASEAN should continue to build a more cohesive Community by strengthening common identity and values, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, promoting the role of youth, and investing in sub-regional development.
Regarding external relations, the Minister emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation with partners in a more substantive and balanced manner, ensuring ASEAN's priority areas while leveraging the strengths of each partner.
On this basis, the Foreign Minister affirmed that Vietnam, as the Coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand and ASEAN-UK relations for 2024-2027, will continue to contribute positively, including coordinating practical activities to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership in 2026.
Discussing international and regional situations, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized the crucial role of solidarity and ASEAN's central role in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development.
Regarding the East Sea, the Foreign Minister affirmed the commitment to building a peaceful, stable, and cooperative region, promoting the early completion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.
Concerning the situation in Myanmar and Cambodia-Thailand tensions, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung reaffirmed support for ASEAN's efforts in implementing the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), and stated that Vietnam is ready to coordinate with ASEAN to support Cambodia and Thailand in restoring peace and stability and providing humanitarian assistance to affected people.
On this occasion, the Foreign Minister announced that Vietnam will host the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2026) in the second quarter of 2026, thanked the countries for their support in previous Forums, and cordially invited them to send high-level representatives to attend.
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| Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung meets with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. |
* On January 29, on the occasion of attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Cebu, Philippines, Politburo Member and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung held meetings with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
During the meeting with the Singapore Foreign Minister, both sides expressed satisfaction with the robust development of the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; agreed to effectively implement the 5-year Action Program for 2025-2030; prioritized economic, trade, and investment cooperation, especially expanding Singapore's development space in Vietnam through upgrading the second-generation Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) network, aiming for 30 VSIPs by 2026 to commemorate 30 years of VSIP presence in Vietnam.
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| Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung working with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. |
Minister Le Hoai Trung appreciated the positive progress in bilateral cooperation in new growth areas, especially clean energy, carbon credits, science and technology, and digital transformation; proposed coordinating to complete the legal framework, facilitating businesses from both countries to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy projects, and exporting clean electricity to Singapore; and promoting security-defense cooperation to become a pillar in the newly upgraded relationship framework.
Agreeing with Vietnam's proposals, the Singapore Foreign Minister suggested that in the context of many geopolitical changes, the two countries need to coordinate more closely, contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region; creating synergy in 2027 when Vietnam hosts APEC and Singapore chairs ASEAN. The Singapore Minister also gladly accepted the invitation to visit Vietnam in 2026, possibly during the ASEAN Future Forum, and cordially invited Minister Le Hoai Trung to officially visit Singapore at a suitable time.
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| Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung working with Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas. |
During the meeting with the Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, both sides were pleased with the positive developments in bilateral cooperation; agreed to explore establishing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as a Joint Committee on Economic-Trade Cooperation or a Joint Trade Subcommittee...
They also agreed to negotiate and sign cooperation agreements soon, especially a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders, to create a legal framework to promote substantive cooperation, aiming to elevate bilateral relations to a new level in the near future.
Minister Le Hoai Trung informed and proposed that Timor-Leste facilitate the establishment of the Vietnamese Embassy in Dili, as well as allow Vietnamese businesses to expand investment, especially in telecommunications, digital technology, energy, oil and gas, fisheries, and food processing, thereby contributing to Timor-Leste's socio-economic development and enhancing intra-ASEAN economic connectivity.
Agreeing with Vietnam's proposals, the Timor-Leste Foreign Minister once again thanked Vietnam for its sincere and practical support for Timor-Leste throughout its ASEAN accession process; expressed a desire to continue receiving Vietnam's support to effectively participate in ASEAN cooperation mechanisms and prepare for assuming the rotating Chairmanship in the near future.
* Earlier, on January 28, in Cebu City, Philippines, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Head of SOM ASEAN-Vietnam, attended the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) to review and finalize preparations for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat.
