Vietnam has urged for enhanced cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States in pivotal areas such as trade, artificial intelligence, digital technology, and energy transition. This call to action was made during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the US in Manila. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung emphasized the importance of these collaborations and welcomed the US’s ongoing commitment to peace, stability, and development in the region. He encouraged both parties to swiftly finalize a comprehensive new work program.
Minister Trung highlighted the necessity of expanding partnerships in critical sectors including trade and investment, the digital economy, semiconductors, science and technology, innovation, and energy transition. He also appealed for continued US assistance for the Mekong sub-region, particularly in water management, climate change adaptation, infrastructure development, and workforce training. Trung underscored the importance of maintaining regional peace through dialogue and adherence to international law, particularly in relation to the South China Sea, and he called for US support in fostering an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order centered on ASEAN.
Regarding regional security, Trung emphasized the significance of resolving disputes through dialogue and international law. He expressed appreciation for the US’s backing of ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea and urged further assistance from Washington to bolster an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional structure. Addressing issues beyond Southeast Asia, Trung advocated for enhanced dialogue and the restoration of secure maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed the United States’ support for ASEAN, describing Southeast Asia as a region of substantial strategic and economic significance. He promised ongoing US investment in supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, power-grid connectivity, and civil nuclear cooperation. Rubio’s statements reinforced the shared commitment to deepening economic ties and expanding collaboration in high-value industries.
In addition to these strategic discussions, ASEAN and the United States reached an agreement to strengthen economic bonds, enhance cooperation in prominent industries, and bolster people-to-people exchanges. They also committed to improving coordination in addressing pressing challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams. This mutual effort underscores the importance of a collaborative approach to regional and global challenges.
