Vietnam Pushes Multilateral Cooperation in ASEAN Diplomacy

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation with various countries and regions on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines. Regarding relations with Canada, Vietnam proposed making energy security and transition a pillar of ASEAN-Canada relations, urging Canada to support the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid and expand cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage, and civilian nuclear power. Vietnam regards Canada as an important partner. In terms of relations with Japan, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the robust development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all fields, noting that the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to Vietnam in May 2026 had created fresh momentum for strengthening ties. They agreed to work closely to realize agreements, including bolstering economic connectivity and security, sci-tech collaboration, and pushing concrete joint projects in digital transformation, green transition, innovation, semiconductors, and AI. Concerning relations with China, ASEAN-China was described as one of ASEAN’s most dynamic and comprehensive partnerships, with emphasis on effectively implementing the 2026–2030 Plan of Action. This aligns with Vietnam's aim to build a Vietnam-China Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, being more practical and profound. Regarding relations with Russia, the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of dialogue relations was evaluated as an important milestone that reaffirmed the strategic value of ASEAN-Russia relations and injected fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation. In its relations with New Zealand, Vietnam called for prioritizing cooperation in ensuring people's essential needs and building secure and resilient food and energy supply chains. With the US, Vietnam proposed promoting 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. In its relations with India, Vietnam proposed exploring the establishment of an ASEAN–India maritime dialogue mechanism and asked for continued support for ASEAN's principled position on the East Sea issue. Furthermore, as an active, proactive, and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam has proven its ability to forge consensus, spur cooperation, and maintain balance amid an increasingly complex regional geopolitical landscape, according to an Indonesia-based expert. Domestically, the 14th Party Central Committee considered proposals on building a disciplined, safe, civilized, harmonious, and development-oriented society, and discussed the establishment of a national security strategy. On the occasion of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27), Vietnam's top leader stated that 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. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.