Vietnam Urges Stronger Connectivity, Resilience in ASEAN+3 Cooperation

Le Hoai Trung, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on July 22 met with Wang Yi, Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung is in the Philippines to attend the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and Related Meetings. The Vietnamese delegation proposed making energy security and transition a pillar of ASEAN-Canada relations, and urged Canada to support the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid and expand cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage and nuclear power for civilian purposes. At the meeting, Trung welcomed Rubio's participation and active contributions to the ASEAN meetings, saying they reflected the US' commitment to maintaining engagement in the region, supporting ASEAN centrality, and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia. Highlighting strengths of Linz city and Upper Austria in general in advanced technology, innovation and high-quality human resources training, Vietnamese Ambassaor to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang proposed stronger links among businesses, research institutes and universities. He identified artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, robotics, automation, quantum computing and biotechnology as promising areas for cooperation. Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed that ASEAN–UK cooperation shift its focus from growth to enhancing resilience, self-reliance and innovation on the basis of increasingly strengthened mutual trust. During a meeting with the UNRWA official in Manila, the Philippines on July 22, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang affirmed Vietnam’s consistent support for UNRWA’s role and operations, praising its efforts to maintain humanitarian, educational and healthcare assistance for Palestinians amid the complex situation. The platform is expected to enable the Government to establish a unified digital management space linking central and local authorities, with every assigned task clearly identifying the responsible agency, implementation deadline, expected outputs, progress updates, delay warnings and accountability. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency. The two ministers agreed to continue seriously and effectively implementing important common perceptions reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries; promote the strategic guiding role of high-level exchanges; and advance the building of the Vietnam-China Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in an increasingly practical and profound manner in accordance with the “six major orientations”. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the robust development of the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all fields, noting that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's official visit to Vietnam in May 2026 had created fresh momentum for strengthening ties between the two parties and the two countries. Mekong-Japan cooperation, together with ASEAN-led mechanisms, contributes to building a peaceful, stable, resilient and prosperous Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific region, they stressed, noting that amid growing uncertainties, emerging cooperation opportunities and challenges, the mechanism should continue to innovate and adapt to better meet the development demands of Mekong countries and Japan. The two ministers reaffirmed their support for ASEAN's common position and underscored the need to maintain peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight. They reiterated that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Addressing the ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on July 22 on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings in the Philippines, Trung described the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of dialogue relations held in Kazan, Russia, in June as an important milestone that reaffirmed the strategic value of ASEAN-Russia relations and injected fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation. Trung called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand to prioritise cooperation in ensuring people's essential needs, and building secure and resilient food and energy supply chains. Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed promoting the co-creation of a secure digital economy by leveraging Japan’s strengths in technology and innovation to effectively implement the ASEAN-Japan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation and Co-Creation Roadmap, the FOIP Digital Corridor and the Hanoi Convention against Cybercrime. In a letter on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27, 1947–2026), the top leader said every piece of land in Vietnam is steeped in the sweat, blood, will and enduring aspirations of generations who devoted their youth, personal happiness, health and lives to the independence of the Fatherland, the freedom of the people, the noble ideals of the Party and the enduring future of the nation. NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently regards Japan as one of its most important and long-term strategic partners and supports the leading role of the ruling LDP. In his remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described ASEAN–China as one of ASEAN’s most dynamic and comprehensive partnerships, stressing the importance of effectively implementing the 2026–2030 Plan of Action to enhance the quality and strategic value of bilateral cooperation. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. The 14th Party Central Committee on July 22 considered proposals on building a disciplined, safe, civilised, harmonious and development-oriented society, and developing a national security strategy, as well as discussed the establishment of Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh as centrally-governed cities. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung met separately with his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, on July 22. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed that ASEAN and the US promote trade and investment in an open, transparent and mutually beneficial manner, while expanding joint work in the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, science and technology, innovation, energy transition and regional energy connectivity.