Vietnam Strengthens ASEAN Ties, Meets Chinese Foreign Minister

Le Hoai Trung, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Wang Yi, Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines on July 22. This meeting underscores Vietnam's commitment to strengthening its ties with ASEAN partners and dialogue countries within the ASEAN framework. As a key member of ASEAN, Vietnam plays an active role in promoting regional cooperation. Vietnam also co-chaired the ASEAN-UK Post-Ministerial Conference, signaling its efforts to deepen relationships with major countries outside the ASEAN region. This move is seen as part of Vietnam's strategy to enhance its international presence through global partnerships, in addition to strengthening regional solidarity. Discussions between Vietnam and China are understood to have covered the development of bilateral relations and regional issues, including the South China Sea. Vietnam, while maintaining its one-party system, prioritizes economic growth and deems stable relations with neighboring countries essential. The relationship with China is particularly significant due to strong economic ties, alongside sensitive territorial issues. Through the ASEAN framework, Vietnam aims to deepen economic integration within the region and achieve national development by balancing geopolitical interests. The series of engagements at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting clearly indicates Vietnam's intention to play a constructive role in ASEAN and pursue sustainable economic growth and stable diplomatic relations through enhanced international cooperation.