During the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference held in Manila, Vietnam emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between ASEAN and the United States in key sectors such as trade, artificial intelligence, digital technology, and energy transition. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung expressed appreciation for the United States’ dedication to ensuring peace, stability, and development within the region. He urged both parties to expedite the completion of a new comprehensive work program to further solidify their cooperative efforts.
Trung outlined key areas for expanded cooperation, highlighting trade and investment, the digital economy, semiconductors, science and technology, innovation, and energy transition. Additionally, he called for sustained US involvement in supporting the Mekong sub-region, focusing on critical issues like water management, climate change adaptation, infrastructure development, and workforce training. In terms of regional security, Trung underscored the significance of maintaining peace and resolving conflicts through dialogue and adherence to international law. He expressed gratitude for the US’s continued backing of ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea and called on Washington to contribute to the establishment of an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order centered on ASEAN.
Addressing the situation in the Middle East, Trung advocated for increased dialogue and the restoration of safe maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized the necessity of safeguarding freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the US’s commitment to ASEAN, highlighting Southeast Asia as a region of considerable strategic and economic importance. Rubio assured ongoing US investment in key areas such as supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, power-grid connectivity, and civil nuclear collaboration.
The discussions concluded with an agreement between ASEAN and the United States to deepen economic ties and expand cooperation in high-value industries. Both parties also committed to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and improving coordination to tackle significant challenges, including terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams. This collaboration aims to strengthen the partnership and address the pressing issues facing the region.