In a recent gathering in Manila, Vietnam advocated for enhanced collaboration between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in areas such as trade, artificial intelligence, digital technology, and energy transition. The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the US served as the backdrop for this call to action, emphasizing the need for both sides to forge a comprehensive work program swiftly.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung highlighted the significance of US engagement in ensuring peace, stability, and development across the region. He pushed for extended partnerships in crucial sectors like trade, investment, the digital economy, semiconductors, science and technology, and innovation. Additionally, Trung underscored the necessity of energy transition and regional energy connectivity. He also urged for continued American support in the Mekong sub-region, particularly in water management, climate adaptation, infrastructure growth, and workforce training.
On the security front, Trung called attention to the importance of maintaining peace and resolving regional disputes through dialogue and adherence to international law. He welcomed the US’s backing for ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea and encouraged Washington to bolster a regional order that is open, inclusive, and rules-based, with ASEAN at its core. Addressing the situation in the Middle East, Trung advocated for increased dialogue and the safeguarding of maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need to uphold freedom of navigation under international law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated America’s commitment to ASEAN, recognizing Southeast Asia as a region of significant strategic and economic value. He promised continuous US investment in supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, and power-grid connectivity, along with civil nuclear collaboration. The dialogue between ASEAN and the US resulted in an agreement to deepen economic relationships, enhance cooperation in high-value industries, and foster people-to-people exchanges.
Both parties also pledged to improve coordination in addressing challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams. This reinforced partnership aims to tackle pressing issues while expanding mutual benefits, ensuring the region’s stability and prosperity in the face of evolving global dynamics.