The year 2025 marks a successful period for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a series of historic milestones achieved, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of Vietnam’s SOM ASEAN, speaks at the event.

Giang, who is also head of Vietnam’s SOM ASEAN, made the remarks at an inter-sectoral meeting in Hanoi on December 9 to review cooperation, Vietnam’s participation in 2025, and orientations for 2026. Nearly 60 delegates from ministries and sectors took part.

According to the official, ASEAN has laid out a strategic cooperation framework for the next two decades on the basis of major achievements and strong progress in Community-building.

These include the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and strategies across political-security, economic, socio-cultural and connectivity pillars, all aimed at building a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN.

He stressed that the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member marked the bloc’s first expansion in almost 30 years, widening its geographical reach and strengthening its collective capacity.

Economic, trade and investment linkages continued to be enhanced through the upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the development of the ASEAN Sustainable Investment Guidelines and the basic completion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

ASEAN’s cooperation with its development partners remained strong and substantive in 2025.

Highlights included the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with New Zealand; the upgrading of free trade agreements with China, the Republic of Korea and India; the implementation of upgraded FTAs with Australia and New Zealand; and the acceleration of negotiations on an FTA with Canada, scheduled for completion in 2026.

ASEAN’s role as a symbol of dialogue and cooperation for peace, security and development continues to be widely recognised, he said.

For Vietnam, Giang noted, 2025 provided an opportunity to look back on three decades of its engagement with ASEAN. From the humble beginnings, Vietnam has become an indispensable member making significant contributions to the bloc’s shared success.

During the year, Vietnam’s senior leaders took part in numerous ASEAN activities, demonstrating the country’s strong political commitment to regional cooperation.

Vietnam worked closely with other members to complete the implementation of the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025 and adopt the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The country also undertook key responsibilities such as chairing the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Task Force, hosting the Working Group on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Strategy, and advancing various initiatives, including an ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on strengthening the arrest of wanted criminals and seven resolutions adopted by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

The ASEAN Future Forum was successfully organised for the second consecutive year, gradually becoming a “brand”, creating a space for multi-dimensional and open exchanges on essential issues concerning the future of ASEAN and the region.

Looking ahead to 2026, ministries and sectors agreed to continue promoting Vietnam’s proactive, active and responsible role in ASEAN; contributing to maintaining solidarity and unity; and helping to strengthen a favourable strategic environment for development.

Delegates highlighted the importance of addressing regional hotspots; implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and sectoral strategies; strengthening the legal framework for ASEAN cooperation; and deepening regional economic integration in key strategic areas such as infrastructure, supply chains, energy connectivity, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and the green economy.

They emphasised the need to strengthen ASEAN’s institutional capacity and enhance coordination between AIPA channel and the government in advancing regional cooperation initiatives.

They also agreed to continue implementing the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW on orientations for Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN cooperation through 2030 and work to ensure the successful organisation of the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, reaffirming its contribution to the region’s future.

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