Vietnam proposes four measures to strengthen ASEAN solidarity, resilience, connectivity

MANILA (VNA) -- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, put forward four proposals to strengthen ASEAN’s solidarity, resilience and connectivity while addressing the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-59), which opened in Manila.

Foreign ministers of ASEAN countries at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.

First, he called for continued adherence to ASEAN principles and stronger dialogue and cooperation to address common challenges.
Second, it is necessary to promote deeper, more resilient, and more competitive ASEAN economic integration through the ASEAN economic security framework to enhance regional resilience in the face of future uncertainties.
Third, he proposed building a people-centred ASEAN that capitalises on the bloc’s “unity in diversity” and promotes mutual understanding among its peoples.
Finally, the official stressed the need to reinforce ASEAN’s strategic autonomy and centrality, particularly amid increasingly intense and complex major-power competition.
Giang, who attended the meeting on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, also shared Vietnam’s assessments of regional developments and ASEAN’s priorities in the coming period.
In her opening remarks, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro highlighted the significance of the meeting amid growing global uncertainty and unpredictability, saying that decisions made at this time’s meetings will help shape the future of the region.
“In a fractured global landscape, no single nation can weather these storms alone. Our strength and resilience lie in our community,” Lazaro told her counterparts.
She emphasised that acting together is ASEAN’s shield against external pressures and engine for regional stability. “If we do not move forward as one, we risk being pulled apart.”
Lazaro emphasised that ASEAN members should continue upholding the bloc’s fundamental principles based on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), strengthen collective strength and resilience, and make ASEAN a shield against external pressures and an anchor for regional peace and stability.
Following the opening ceremony, ASEAN foreign ministers convened a plenary session where they expressed satisfaction with cooperation achievements recorded during the first seven months of the year and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the outcomes of the 48th ASEAN Summit, accelerating the ASEAN Community Vision building process and advancing the priorities of ASEAN Chairmanship 2026.
They agreed that the bloc’s immediate priority is to safeguard ASEAN’s solidarity and resilience and strengthen its central role within an increasingly substantive and expanding network of partnerships.
They also called for more effective implementation of cooperation plans and programmes, including the coordinated and comprehensive execution of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis across all three ASEAN pillars to safeguard energy and food security, maintain supply chain stability and support people affected by the crisis.
The officials reiterated support for Timor-Leste’s deeper integration into ASEAN and agreed to admit Türkiye as ASEAN’s 12th dialogue partner.

(Latest Update July 23, 2026)