Vietnam Leaves Lasting Imprint at AMM-59: Deputy FM

Vietnam left a significant mark at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings held in the Philippines, strongly emphasizing its commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and stability. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Philippines, the European Union (EU), and Norway, among others, on the sidelines of the meetings. Looking ahead, Vietnam proposed prioritizing stronger regional resilience by scaling up energy cooperation, pooling financial resources, and cracking down on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These initiatives are aimed at building a resilient and sustainable blue economy. Vietnam also highlighted its capacity to act as a bridge between diverse stakeholders within ASEAN. With its strategic geopolitical position and rapid economic growth, Vietnam is increasingly expected to play a crucial role in building consensus among member states and fostering cooperation with countries that have differing strategic relationships with major powers. Discussions also covered enhancing maritime security and cooperation, with the Vietnamese delegation underscoring that the principles of the Code of Conduct (COC) serve as a "foundational code of conduct" guiding relations among countries amid profound global changes, rising geopolitical tensions, mounting challenges to international law, and the erosion of multilateralism. Furthermore, Vietnam's long-standing contributions across the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars as an important ASEAN member were recognized by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. He expressed confidence that Vietnam will continue playing an active role in advancing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Domestically, Vietnam is streamlining its governance system through administrative restructuring. This process has clarified the functions, responsibilities, and authorities of state agencies at all levels and strengthened the role of grassroots authorities. This administrative reform is expected to enhance the overall resilience of Vietnamese diplomacy and contribute to protecting national interests.