Strengthening cooperation and coordination between Vietnam and the ASEAN Secretariat

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son thanked the ASEAN Secretary-General for accepting the invitation and actively contributing to the AFF, hoping that the Secretary-General will continue to support Vietnam's efforts to turn the Forum into a comprehensive and inclusive exchange mechanism for government officials, researchers, scholars and other groups and sectors to seek solutions to current and strategic issues facing ASEAN.

Emphasizing that ASEAN is at an important stage, both promoting the timely completion of the 2025 Master Plans and urgently building the Cooperation Strategies until 2045, Minister Bui Thanh Son shared three orientations for ASEAN to continue promoting its role, prestige and adaptability.

That is to expand cooperation in new areas such as digital economy , circular economy, energy transition, training of high-quality human resources to effectively utilize new growth drivers, promote narrowing of development gaps and sub-regional cooperation, including the Mekong sub-region for the goal of inclusive and equitable development, and deepen relations with partners, taking advantage of the strengths and support of countries for the Community building process.

Faced with the impact of increased competition among major powers, the Minister emphasized the need for ASEAN to continue maintaining a balanced and harmonious approach, promoting substantive cooperation, building trust and connecting interests, and making active and responsible contributions to peace , security, stability and sustainable development.

On this occasion, the Minister highly appreciated the support of the Secretariat during Vietnam's term as coordinator of ASEAN-Korea relations for the 2021-2024 period and hoped that the Secretariat would continue to coordinate during the process of Vietnam preparing and assuming the role of coordinator of ASEAN-UK and ASEAN-New Zealand relations from July 2024.

Appreciating the efforts of the ASEAN Secretariat, the Minister suggested that the Secretariat should continue to promote its role more effectively in supporting member countries, enhancing research and forecasting work, improving the effectiveness of inter-sectoral and inter-pillar coordination and mobilizing resources for the Secretariat's activities.

Strengthening cooperation and coordination between Vietnam and the ASEAN Secretariat photo 1

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)

Thanking Minister Bui Thanh Son for inviting him to attend the AFF, ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's AFF initiative has received support and high appreciation from ASEAN countries and partners. The Secretary General affirmed to continue supporting Vietnam to host the AFF in the following years.

The ASEAN Secretary General agreed with Minister Bui Thanh Son's comments on building a united, prosperous ASEAN Community and playing a central role in the region, emphasizing priorities in the fields of investment, trade and tourism, attaching importance to sub-regional cooperation, including the Mekong sub-region, supporting narrowing the development gap, enhancing connectivity and training human resources for ASEAN member countries.

In the coming time, Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn also supports Vietnam's viewpoint on strengthening deeper and more substantive dialogue relations between ASEAN and its partners, meeting the needs, concerns and interests of all parties.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn thanked Vietnam for its support for the Secretariat's activities, committed to working with Vietnam to complete the term of coordinating ASEAN-Korea relations and take over the role of coordinating ASEAN-UK and ASEAN-New Zealand relations, and expressed his hope that Vietnam and other member countries would support the enhancement of the role and capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat in the coming time.

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