Vietnam Strengthens Role as Strategic Linchpin for ASEAN

Vietnam is strengthening its role as a strategic linchpin for ASEAN's regional cooperation and future vision, according to Malaysian scholars and Indonesian experts. They highlight Vietnam's capacity to bridge diverse national interests and maintain ASEAN solidarity amid a complex geopolitical landscape. ASEAN must continuously enhance its adaptability, resilience, and strategic autonomy to face mounting challenges. Vietnam has already demonstrated its ability to forge consensus, spur cooperation, and maintain balance in such circumstances, and is expected to continue playing an active role in advancing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. In diplomacy, Vietnam values the role of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and regards it as a key pillar of parliamentary diplomacy. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Panama, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Philippines, the European Commission, and Norway on the sidelines of ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings to strengthen relations. Domestically, Vietnam is undertaking sweeping administrative restructuring to streamline its governance system, enhance efficiency, and strengthen the role of grassroots authorities. This aligns with the promotion of "people-to-people diplomacy" which contributes to building the nation's overall strength and protecting national interests in diplomacy. Furthermore, amid challenges to international law and the erosion of multilateralism, Vietnam emphasized that the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) serve as a "foundational code of conduct" in enhancing maritime security and cooperation. In science and technology, next-generation gene sequencing technologies are playing a crucial role in improving the identification of fallen soldiers' remains. Vietnam has also contributed to the ASEAN Education Work Plan 2026–2030, setting out shared priorities for building inclusive and transformative education systems in the region. This aims to nurture resilient and well-rounded individuals, develop a competitive workforce, and strengthen a common ASEAN identity rooted in shared values.