ASEAN Strengthens Cooperation to Tackle Future Health Challenges

ASEAN is deepening cooperation among member states to enhance responses to future health challenges. A survey of around 150 European business leaders indicated stronger expectations for trade and investment across the region. Vietnam will once again lease an entire exhibition area of about 3,000sq.m, featuring 170 booths at the CAEXPO, making it one of the ASEAN countries with the largest exhibition spaces. Nearly 100 Vietnamese businesses, including major brands like Trung Nguyen Group, TH Group, Saigon Coffee, and Biti’s, have confirmed their participation. The official visit to Vietnam by Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing from September 4-6 opened a new chapter in bilateral ties and contributed to regional peace and prosperity, highlighting Vietnam’s constructive and pragmatic role in maintaining ASEAN unity and credibility. Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan highlighted Vladivostok's important role as a gateway connecting Russia with the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam. He noted that 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations. Vietnam has proposed three strategic priorities for ASEAN cooperation. First, ASEAN should expand and harmonize mutual recognition mechanisms by increasing the scope and number of Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs). Second, promote the role of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC) in connecting national skills certification systems with regional and global standards, based on national occupational skills qualification frameworks and regional references. Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang noted that ADMM+ has consistently served as an open and inclusive cooperation mechanism allowing nations with legitimate interests to contribute to peace, stability, and development. He added that under the Philippines' chair, ASEAN defence cooperation will grow even stronger, allowing the region to respond flexibly and proactively to security risks. Economically, China-ASEAN trade cooperation is shifting from expansion in scale toward higher-quality growth, with greater emphasis on trade liberalization, supply-chain connectivity, and emerging fields such as the digital and green economies. Vietnamese businesses have established leading positions in some supply chains, including seafood, wood processing, cashew, and coffee processing. However, in manufacturing and electronics, many firms remain concentrated in assembly and the supply of simple components. Data transparency, traceability, and effective supply-chain management are key to helping leading businesses maintain their positions. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the Department of Vocational and Continuing Education under the Ministry of Education and Training, held a national workshop in Hanoi to discuss the implementation of the AQRF and introduce Vietnam's AQRF Referencing Report and post-referencing action plan. Vietnam is playing an increasingly important role in ASEAN's regional integration and its engagement with the international community, aligning with its strategy to pursue economic growth under a one-party system while diversifying international relations. This approach allows Vietnam to balance its economic development goals with its geopolitical positioning.