In a recent assembly held in Manila, Vietnam called for enhanced cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, focusing on sectors such as trade, artificial intelligence, digital technology, and energy transition. The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the US served as a platform for Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung to express appreciation for Washington’s dedication to peace, stability, and regional development. He pressed for the swift completion of a new comprehensive work program, aimed at strengthening ties between the US and ASEAN.
Minister Trung outlined several key areas for collaboration, including trade and investment, the digital economy, semiconductors, science and technology, and innovation. He also emphasized the significance of energy transition and regional energy connectivity, advocating for ongoing US assistance in the Mekong sub-region. This support is crucial for addressing challenges like water management, climate change adaptation, infrastructure projects, and workforce training.
Focusing on regional security, Trung highlighted the necessity of preserving peace and resolving disputes through dialogue and adherence to international law. He applauded the US for backing ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea and urged continued efforts to reinforce a rules-based regional order that is open and inclusive. Shifting attention to the Middle East, Trung called for intensified dialogue and the reestablishment of safe maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need to uphold freedom of navigation according to international law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated America’s commitment to ASEAN, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s strategic and economic significance. He assured continued US investment in supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, power-grid connectivity, and civil nuclear collaboration. During the conference, both ASEAN and the United States agreed to deepen economic partnerships, foster cooperation in high-value industries, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides also pledged to boost coordination in addressing pressing issues such as terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams. These efforts aim to strengthen the longstanding relationship between ASEAN and the United States, ensuring mutual benefits and stability in the region while tackling global challenges together.