ASEAN senior officials meet to prepare for 48th ASEAN Summit
WVR - On April 7, in Manila, Philippines, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (ASEAN SOM) took place with the participation of senior officials from 11 member countries and leaders of the ASEAN Secretariat. Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Head of ASEAN SOM-Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting.
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| Delegates attending the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (ASEAN SOM) take a commemorative photo. |
At the meeting, countries focused on reviewing the implementation of commitments, agreed cooperation priorities, preparations for the 48th ASEAN Summit (expected to take place in May 2026), and discussed directions and measures to strengthen unity and cooperation amidst global fluctuations and challenges.
The meeting acknowledged the progress in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the commitments and priorities for 2026, which continue to achieve positive results.
The Philippines, the ASEAN Chair for 2026, affirmed its determination to work with ASEAN countries to achieve the goals and priorities set for 2026 under the theme “Steering a Common Future”, including priorities on maintaining peace, security, responding to emerging threats, maritime cooperation, enhancing economic-trade integration, promoting digital transformation and creative economy, supporting small and medium enterprises, promoting inclusive and comprehensive development, and enhancing the role of the people...
Additionally, countries exchanged and agreed on many important contents and directions, including considering expanding ASEAN's external relations; strengthening coordination at the United Nations and international forums; enhancing the effectiveness of ASEAN-led mechanisms and forums; continuing to support Timor-Leste's effective integration into ASEAN mechanisms, alongside addressing issues arising after the country's accession.
Discussing preparations for the 48th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN senior officials agreed that in the context of the region being negatively impacted by geopolitical and geo-economic fluctuations worldwide, this is an opportunity for ASEAN leaders to comprehensively assess the situation and set out common response strategies and plans for the bloc.
Accordingly, countries exchanged and agreed on important directions to report to Ministers and Senior Leaders for consideration and decision-making.
The Philippines, as the Chair, affirmed its determination to successfully organize the 48th ASEAN Summit despite facing some challenges, and additionally provided information on some initiatives planned for this Summit, including initiatives aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation.
During the discussions at the meeting, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that in the context of continuous global fluctuations and challenges, ASEAN needs to continuously strive to consolidate unity, enhance effective and substantive cooperation within the bloc as well as with partners, improve methods and mechanisms, and enhance operational efficiency, while promoting a unified role and voice at the United Nations and multilateral forums.
In the context of the conflict in the Middle East causing negative and widespread impacts on ASEAN countries, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang suggested that ASEAN consider and develop a comprehensive response strategy across all aspects, including politics, economy, energy, food, and society, to present to the 48th ASEAN Summit for consideration and approval.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang provided information about the plan to organize the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, continuing to promote Vietnam's initiatives on enhancing the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms, enhancing legal cooperation...
| Also within the framework of ASEAN Senior Officials Meetings, on the morning of April 8, the Executive Committee Meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ ExCom) took place to review the situation of the Treaty and the 19th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group to discuss the progress of Timor-Leste's full ASEAN membership roadmap. |
