Vietnam Proposes Three Priorities for Advancing ASEAN-Japan Cooperation

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed three priorities to advance cooperation between ASEAN and Japan at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59), aiming to further strengthen regional ties. The first priority highlighted by Minister Trung was the "co-creation of a secure digital economy." This initiative seeks to effectively implement the ASEAN-Japan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation and Co-Creation Roadmap, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Digital Corridor, and the Hanoi Convention against Cybercrime by leveraging Japan's strengths in technology and innovation. Vietnam is looking to Japan's expertise and support for enhancing cybersecurity and developing digital infrastructure. The second priority focused on contributing to sustainable development. The minister emphasized the importance of ASEAN and Japan collaborating to address global challenges such as climate change and environmental protection. This likely includes support for transitioning to renewable energy and building sustainable supply chains. The third priority was the promotion of cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Minister Trung stated that exchanges in areas like education, tourism, and arts are essential for deepening mutual understanding and building long-term friendly relations between the two regions. These proposals demonstrate Vietnam's proactive role in ASEAN and its commitment to promoting regional cooperation. In the digital economy sector, in particular, Vietnam, while experiencing rapid economic growth, faces challenges in cybersecurity and data protection, and it is expected that Japan's advanced technologies and experience will be beneficial in addressing these issues. Furthermore, as Vietnam pursues economic development under its one-party system, it places importance on international cooperation, and strengthening ties with Japan can be seen as a key strategy to enhance the sustainability of its economic growth and expand its regional influence.