Manila, January 28, 2026 – The Europe Today: Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung has attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMMR) and related meetings held from January 28–29 in Cebu, the Philippines, at the invitation of Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro.
Leading the Vietnamese delegation, Minister Trung participated in the extended informal consultation at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ level on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar on January 28. The consultation was chaired by Secretary Lazaro in her capacity as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair, with the Philippines serving as ASEAN Chair in 2026.
In his remarks, Minister Trung reaffirmed Việt Nam’s strong support for the Philippines and for Secretary Lazaro in coordinating efforts to implement the 5PC. He highlighted ASEAN’s central role and sustained efforts over the past five years in promoting the consensus and stressed that the bloc should continue assisting Myanmar in overcoming its ongoing crisis. He also expressed Việt Nam’s readiness to work closely with the Philippines and other ASEAN member states to propose initiatives and consider new measures to advance the 5PC in response to recent developments in Myanmar.
During the consultation, Secretary Lazaro briefed participants on recent progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus. ASEAN foreign ministers shared assessments of the situation in Myanmar, including recent elections, and reiterated that the 5PC remains the primary framework guiding ASEAN’s support for Myanmar. They emphasized that full and effective implementation of the consensus would contribute to lasting peace and stability through solutions led by Myanmar itself.
On the sidelines of the AMMR, Minister Trung held bilateral meetings with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, as well as with his Philippine, Thai, and Bruneian counterparts—Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and Dato Erywan Yusof, respectively.
During these meetings, Minister Trung shared key outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, noting that science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation have been identified as new drivers of future growth. He also outlined Việt Nam’s focus on three strategic breakthroughs: institutional reform, human resource development, and infrastructure development.
Minister Trung reaffirmed Việt Nam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, while highlighting updated diplomatic priorities that emphasize enhanced external relations, deeper international integration, and a continued focus on national defense and security.
Congratulating Minister Trung on his election to the Politburo, his counterparts praised Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, including its strong economic growth performance. They expressed confidence that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam headed by General Secretary Tô Lâm, the country would achieve its two centenary goals of becoming a developing nation with modern industry and upper-middle income status by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045.
The ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern, underscoring the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety in the region. They stressed the need to strengthen ASEAN unity and cohesion, promote the bloc’s central role in regional and global affairs, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (South China Sea), and work toward an effective and substantive Code of Conduct.
On January 29, Minister Trung and the Vietnamese delegation are scheduled to continue attending the AMMR to discuss and endorse priority cooperation directions for ASEAN in 2026.
