ASEAN is at a crucial juncture, marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the completion of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and preparations for a new vision.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son meets with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Hanoi on February 25, 2025. Photo: VNA
Hanoi (VNA) ꧂– Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Hanoi on February 25.
At the meeting, Son praised the Secretary-General’s participation in the second ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2025) in Vietnam’s capital, highlighting his valuable contributions to the success of the event.
Discussing ASEAN cooperation, the Deputy PM emphasised that the grouping is at a crucial juncture, marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the completion of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and preparations for a new vision.
Preparing for the new phase of development, Son said that ASEAN member states, together with the Secretariat, should make further efforts to fully and effectively complete the roadmaps and plans already outlined, along with reviewing and evaluating their implementation processes. This would serve as a foundation for the building and more effective implementation of new visions and development plans.
He proposed the ASEAN Secretariat continue to actively collaborate with member states to strengthen communication efforts for enhanced community awareness to ensure that ASEAN is truly a people-centred community. He also emphasised the need to further strengthen institutional capacities, improve inter-sectoral and inter-pillar coordination efficiency, as well as closely link sub-regional development with ASEAN’s overall development process.
On this occasion, Son reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong support for Timor-Leste’s efforts to soon become an official member of ASEAN.
The ASEAN Secretary-General expressed his pleasure at attending AFF 2025, noting its increasingly robust growth, attracting high-ranking leaders from ASEAN countries and major partners, as well as significant attention from the public both inside and outside the region.
Agreeing with the Deputy Prime Minister’s assessments and proposals, Kao Kim Hourn stated that the ASEAN Secretariat is actively assisting member states in completing their roadmaps and plans, conducting a review of the 10-year process of building the Community, and preparing a new development roadmap.
It has also identified key priorities and implemented several measures to enhance the effectiveness of its communication efforts, inter-sectoral and inter-pillar coordination, capacity-building for personnel, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, all of which contribute effectively to the ASEAN Community building process, he said.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son also discussed several regional issues of mutual concern with the ASEAN leader./.
As a country committed to regional cohesion and peace, Vietnam is urging ASEAN nations to turn commitments into concrete outcomes, enhance coordination in addressing both traditional and non-traditional challenges, and build on past achievements to drive ASEAN’s overall development, he told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents in Jakarta.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2025, “Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformation,” will focus on creating a cohesive and adaptive ASEAN capable of navigating the volatile global landscape.
PM Chinh underscored the importance of reinforcing ASEAN’s strategic self-control by strengthening the bloc's solidarity and centrality. An ASEAN with strategic self-control must be consensus-driven, cohesive, balanced and flexible in its external relations. The bloc should play an active role in shaping the regional order and fostering international cooperation amid growing global uncertainties.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
