The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports: Affirming Vietnam's role, position and responsibility in the Southeast Asian region

On the afternoon of October 9, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Sports Administration held a press conference on the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS 8) and related conferences.

In 2025, under the rotation mechanism, Vietnam will officially take on the role of chairing the 16th ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Sports (SOMS 16), the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS 8) and related meetings, including: the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports + Japan (AMMS + Japan 5) and the 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports + China (AMMS + China 2) and other related events scheduled to be held right before AMMS 8.

SOMS 16 and AMMS 8 officially took place from October 13 to 17, with the theme: "Navigating Sports - Contributing to Sustainable Development"

Officially taking place from October 13 to 17, with the theme: "Navigating Sports - Contributing to Sustainable Development", this Conference focuses on discussing many important contents, comprehensively reflecting the development of regional sports in the new period.

The focus of the Conference includes: Developing professional sports associated with science and sports economics to enhance international competitiveness; Promoting gender equality, encouraging the participation of women, youth and people with disabilities; Preserving and promoting traditional sports, connecting with ASEAN culture and identity; Establishing the ASEAN High Performance Sports Center to create an environment for training, exchanging expertise and improving athletes; Promoting the role of sports in improving public health, contributing to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development; Promoting cooperation between ASEAN member countries and dialogue countries (Japan, China, Korea...) and international organizations; Enhancing the role and responsibility of Vietnam in ASEAN's specialized cooperation mechanism; Promoting the image of the country and people of Vietnam to international friends, enhancing friendship and mutual understanding in the ASEAN community.

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration, shared at the press conference.

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration, said that in recent years, SOMS and AMMS have made practical contributions to the development of regional sports, in which countries have shared experiences from high-performance sports to sports for everyone, from promoting the Olympic movement to sports in schools, along with commitments to gender equality in sports, anti-doping, etc.

In particular, regional sports have also strengthened cooperative relationships with leading sports in the continent such as Japan, China or Korea as well as with international sports organizations such as FIFA, WADA... through the extended conferences of SOMS and AMMS.

In the spirit of cooperation and friendship, Southeast Asian sports have made remarkable progress in recent years, the quality of the SEA Games and ASEAN Paragames, especially in terms of organization, has been constantly improved. In addition, many Southeast Asian athletes have also won medals at the Olympic and ASIAD arenas.

The press conference was attended by representatives of ASEAN countries.

"In the past time, under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism , the Vietnam Sports Administration - in its permanent role as organizer - has carried out many related tasks so that the preparation for SOMS 16, AMMS8 and related conferences can be carried out in the most methodical and thoughtful manner, from content to logistics, security and safety..." - Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen shared.

SOMS 16 and AMMS 8 will welcome about 200 delegates, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, heads of sports agencies of ASEAN countries and Timor Leste; ASEAN Senior Sports Officials; representatives of Ministries, Sports agencies of Japan, China and relevant international organizations.

The Conference is expected to adopt Joint Statements and other important documents, assess the implementation results of the ASEAN Sports Action Plan for the period 2021-2025; discuss and develop directions and plans for ASEAN sports activities for the next period, adopt the results of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meetings on Sports; develop a plan for ASEAN Sports cooperation with Japan, China and other partners. In addition, relevant reports and documents of SOMS 15 and SOMS 16, along with a cooperation plan for the period after 2025, will also be reviewed and approved.

Affirming the role and position of Vietnam

One of the important highlights at AMMS 8 is coordinating with the ASEAN Secretariat to comment on documents and promote cooperation with many other partners such as: Korea, the International Football Federation (FIFA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SEARADO).

The press conference provides necessary information to contribute to the communication and wide promotion of the important event.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet - Director of the Vietnam Sports Department - emphasized: "Hosting the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Sports and related conferences is an opportunity to affirm Vietnam's role and position in the region, while promoting ASEAN sports cooperation. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to access international management experience, development models and resources. Fields such as: Sports Science, Physical Education, Sports for the Disabled, or School Sports will be promoted through international cooperation, thereby improving the comprehensive capacity of Vietnamese Sports".

Hosting AMMS 8 is not only a responsibility within the ASEAN sports cooperation mechanism but also an important opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its role and international prestige; promote the image of the country, people and sports of Vietnam to regional friends; and strengthen friendship and mutual understanding within the ASEAN community.

This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to effectively implement the Party and State's major policies on multilateral foreign affairs, in the spirit of Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo, Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat and Decision No. 161/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

The ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS) and the ASEAN Senior Sports Officials Meeting (SOMS) were first held in 2011 at the initiative of the Government leaders of ASEAN countries with the aim of creating regional sports forums where sports sectors meet together to discuss, plan goals and tasks, promote strategic cooperation in various fields, and aim for sustainable common development.

The Senior Sports Officials Meeting (SOMS) is held annually, while AMMS is held every two years. The role of chairman – also the host of the conferences – is rotated between countries. The organization of the conferences is always guided and closely accompanied by the ASEAN Secretariat, strictly following the requirements from the form to the content of the discussion.

After 14 years, AMMS has become an important high-level forum, contributing to promoting cooperation, policy exchange and action in the field of sports among ASEAN member countries.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hoi-nghi-bo-truong-asean-ve-the-thao-lan-thu-8-khang-dinh-vai-tro-vi-the-trach-nhiem-cua-viet-nam-trong-khu-vuoc-dong-nam-a-20251009165717312.htm