Assessing the results of ASEAN cooperation in the past year, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that 2025 is a successful year for ASEAN with many historical milestones.
Based on the great achievements and outstanding developments in the process of building the Community, ASEAN has established a strategic framework for cooperation in the next 20 years, with the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 along with strategies on politics - security, economy, culture - society and connectivity, towards building a self-reliant, creative, dynamic ASEAN with people as the center.
The official decision to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member marks a new step of ASEAN expansion after nearly 30 years, helping to expand the geographical scope, development space and increase ASEAN's collective strength.
Economic, trade and investment linkages continue to be strengthened through upgrading the ASEAN Commodity Trade Agreement, building the ASEAN Sustainable Investment Guidelines and basically concluding negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
ASEAN's cooperation with partners has developed strongly and substantially, including ASEAN establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with New Zealand, upgrading FTAs with China, South Korea and India, putting FTAs with Australia and New Zealand into implementation, accelerating and completing FTA negotiations with Canada in 2026.
The role and value of ASEAN are increasingly valued, considered a symbol of dialogue and cooperation for peace, security and development.
Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that for Vietnam, 2025 is an opportunity to look back on the 3-decade journey of accompanying ASEAN and shaping the direction for the coming time.From the first "stagnant" steps, Vietnam is now an indispensable member, making important contributions to the overall success of the Association.
In 2025, many activities of senior Vietnamese leaders within the ASEAN framework were successfully organized, demonstrating Vietnam's highest political commitment to ASEAN cooperation.
Implementing the commitments of senior leaders, Vietnam and other countries will promote the completion of the implementation of the Master Plans for Community Building 2025 and through the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, successfully asserting many responsibilities such as Chairing the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Initiatives (IAI) Special Task Force (IAI), holding a meeting of the Working Group for Building a Cultural - Social Strategy; chairing and promoting the implementation of many initiatives, including the Declaration of ASEAN leaders on strengthening the arrest of wanted criminals, 7 Resolutions of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) ...
The ASEAN Future Forum was successfully held for the second consecutive year, gradually becoming a "brand", creating a space for multi-dimensional and open exchanges on many essential issues for the future of ASEAN and the region.
Regarding the orientations for participating in ASEAN cooperation in 2026, Vietnam will continue to promote its proactive, active and responsible member role, contributing to maintaining solidarity, unity and consolidating a favorable strategic environment for development, striving to solve hot spots in the region, implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Cooperation strategies, promoting regional economic cooperation and linkages, especially in current strategic areas of both ASEAN and Vietnam such as infrastructure connection, supply chain connection, energy, science - technology connection, innovation and digital transformation, green economy, and enhancing ASEAN's institutional capacity.
In addition, continue to thoroughly grasp and implement Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo on the orientation of ASEAN cooperation participation until 2030, successfully organize the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 to continue to demonstrate Vietnam's role in contributing to the future of the region.
