Delegates pose for a group photo at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Meeting with China. VNA/VNS Photo

VIENTIANE Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt attended the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-57) in Vientiane, Laos, on July 26, where he welcomed the progress in relations between ASEAN and its partners, emphasising the need for coordination to further deepen existing cooperation areas.

He stressed economic, trade and investment cooperation should be a pillar and motivation to develop the relations practically, adding that it is necessary to promote economic connectivity, and effectively utilise free trade agreements between ASEAN and its partners.

Việt, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Việt Nam, called on countries to coordinate more closely to effectively take advantage of new trends and growth drivers, and intensify cooperation in new areas such as science and technology application, innovation, digital and green transition, and energy transformation, towards sustainable development.

The Vietnamese official suggested that ASEAN and its partners should continue to promote dialogue, consultation, and trust building, and join efforts in responding to common challenges through ASEAN-led mechanisms, contributing to shaping an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure that upholds international law, with ASEAN playing a central role.

He expected partners to continue to support ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, as well as ASEAN's efforts to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, security, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

At the event, representatives from ASEAN member nations and the bloc's partner countries emphasised their commitments to effectively implementing existing economic and trade agreements, and agreed to complete negotiations on the establishment, upgrading and review of FTAs with partners such as China, the Republic of Korea, India and Canada as planned.

They affirmed to continue expanding cooperation in new and potential areas such as digital economy, digital transformation, green transition, smart agriculture, energy transformation, and climate change response, contributing to promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development.

ASEAN's partners proposed many cooperation initiatives of common interest such as strengthening ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges; and implementing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Connectivity Initiative, the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future, a key initiative on digital innovation and the ASEAN - RoK Methane Reduction Action Partnership, the EU-ASEAN Green Initiative and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE). 

Discussing regional and international issues such as the East Sea, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the Middle East in the spirit of frank and practical dialogue, delegates from ASEAN and its partners emphasised the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, and stability, and creating a favorable environment for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The foreign ministers adopted many documents such as the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action for the 2025-2029 period; the ASEAN-UK  Joint Statement on Strengthening Connectivity, the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Strengthening Humanitarian Mine Action Cooperation; and the Joint Statement of ASEAN and Russia Foreign Ministers Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Russia’s Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

Within the framework of the ASEAN+1 meetings with Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), the European Union (EU), India, New Zealand, Russian Federation and the UK, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt and Foreign Minister of the RoK Cho Tae Yul co-chaired the ASEAN-Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting, during which the Vietnamese official affirmed that the RoK is one of ASEAN's most important partners.

He highly valued the RoK's commitment to promoting a stronger partnership with the bloc and welcomed the RoK's proposal to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN.

The RoK official took the occasion to send his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese delegation over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He highlighted the progress in connectivity cooperation between ASEAN and the RoK in terms of infrastructure, institutions and people-to-people exchanges, saying that these contributed to creating a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship to continue developing dynamically and positively in the coming time.

The RoK and other ASEAN countries thanked and highly appreciated Việt Nam's efforts and important contributions in its role as coordinator of the ASEAN-RoK relations over the past three years, which create favourable conditions for efforts to elevate the bilateral relationship in the coming years.

On July 27, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and partners will attend the ASEAN-US Meeting and meetings within the frameworks of ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). VNS