Deputy PM, FM Bui Thanh Son calls for reforms to reinforce ARF’s role amidst global complexity

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attends the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). (Photo: Quang Hoa)

On July 11, at the 32nd ARF in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together 27 member states, Deputy Prime Minister Son affirmed the forum’s significance over the past three decades as a key dialogue platform for promoting trust-building, and cooperation, contributing to peace and security in the region.

Peace and security, he said, are not inherently guaranteed but must be maintained through shared efforts, dialogues, cooperation, trust, and compliance with international law.

Discussing international and regional issues, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Son reaffirmed ASEAN's stances on the East Sea, Myanmar, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula. On the East Sea issue, Vietnam maintains its steadfast position of peacefully resolving disputes based on international law, particularly 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – the comprehensive legal framework governing maritime activities. He requested partners to support ASEAN's principled stance and efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the waters.

He laid stress on the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the waters (DOC) and advancing substantive and effective negotiations towards a Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

At the event, Ministers expressed their concerns over the far-reaching impacts of intensifying geopolitical competition and global instability, as well as emerging transnational security threats. Participants reaffirmed ARF’s critical role in promoting dialogue and preventive diplomacy, strengthening trust, and addressing political and security issues for the collective benefit of the region.

They acknowledged significant progress in implementing the Hanoi Action Plan for 2020-2025, praising ARF members' efforts in executing various action streams. Ministers agreed to conduct an end-of-term review to extract valuable lessons and best practices, while consensus emerged that the post-2025 ARF Action Plan must establish specific objectives and feasible measures to ensure practical and effective cooperation.

At the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The Forum welcomed initiatives to revitalise and strengthen the ARF's dynamism, agreeing on the need to update the ARF Vision Statement to enhance the forum's effectiveness and flexibility in responding to issues of mutual concern, thereby contributing to the mitigation of threats to regional peace and security.

The Ministers engaged in extensive discussions on both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, endorsing a catalog of nearly 30 ARF activities for 2025-2026. These initiatives will advance cooperation across multiple sectors including maritime security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity governance, violent extremism prevention, online fraud combat, and climate change response. Vietnam will continue co-chairing the ARF Inter-sessional Group on disaster relief alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2025-2026.

Regarding international and regional issue, member states affirmed their support for ASEAN's principled stance and role, while emphasising the rule of law and peaceful dialogue, resolving disputes through peaceful means consistent with international law.

The 32nd ARF served as the final activity, concluding the week-long 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings (AMM-58). The positive outcomes achieved at these meetings continue to affirm ASEAN's spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, strategic autonomy, and centrality, opening opportunities to promote cooperation between the bloc and its partners while contributing positively and responsibly to peace, security, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world. These conferences also represent important preparatory steps toward the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from October 26-28.