Hanoi, January 15, 2026 – The Europe Today: Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung on Wednesday hosted a reception for ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, who is visiting Việt Nam to attend the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN).
During the meeting, Minister Trung commended the active role and significant contributions of the ASEAN Secretary-General and the ASEAN Secretariat to the bloc’s collective work, as well as their ongoing support and close cooperation with Việt Nam in recent years.
The minister emphasised the importance of unity and solidarity within ASEAN, highlighting the need to prioritise resources to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its strategic plans effectively, while supporting Timor-Leste’s full integration into the bloc’s cooperation frameworks.
Amid complex regional and global developments, Trung underlined that ASEAN must reinforce its solidarity and central role, strengthen resilience and strategic autonomy, and respond swiftly and efficiently to challenges to safeguard peace, security, and stability, which are crucial for economic development in the region.
He highlighted the importance of promoting economic, trade, investment, and connectivity cooperation through effective implementation of regional agreements such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN Power Grid (APG). He also called for leveraging new growth drivers including innovation, digital transformation, the digital economy, and enhanced science and technology partnerships among member states and with external partners.
Trung urged the ASEAN Secretariat to support member states in studying and proposing practical initiatives not only in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, but also in strengthening early-warning, response, and problem-solving capacities to address challenges affecting regional peace, security, and stability, utilising instruments such as the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Regarding the upcoming 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), scheduled for January 19–25, the minister noted that the congress will review 40 years of the Đổi mới (Renewal) process and define Việt Nam’s development goals and orientations for the new era. He reaffirmed Việt Nam’s commitment to a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, alongside multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, with ASEAN playing a strategic role in the country’s foreign policy.
Minister Trung reiterated Việt Nam’s commitment to actively collaborate with other member states to build a united, resilient, and strong ASEAN Community, while reinforcing the bloc’s central role in the evolving regional architecture.
Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn praised Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, describing the country as a model of sustainable development. He reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s readiness to support member states in achieving the goals of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Kao also congratulated the CPV and expressed confidence that the 14th National Congress will contribute significantly to Việt Nam’s development and strengthen its role in the region and globally. He confirmed his participation in the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) in 2026, emphasising its importance in supporting member states in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and related strategic plans.
