ASEAN remains top strategic priority in Viet Nam's foreign policy

Dang said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's upcoming tour to the Philippines to attend the 49^th ASEAN Summit and related Summits marks a step forward in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, diversification, and multilateralization, which was adopted at the 14^th National Party Congress.

During these summits, Viet Nam aims to promote three priorities as follows:

First, Viet Nam will work with ASEAN Member States and partners to firmly maintain an environment of peace, security, and stability as the strategic foundation for building a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centric ASEAN Community by 2045.

Viet Nam will continue to promote consensus, narrow differences, uphold the fundamental principles of ASEAN and international law, advance dialogue and ASEAN-led mechanisms, and consolidate ASEAN solidarity and centrality.

Second, Viet Nam aims to promote substantive progress in ASEAN linkages in economics, trade, investment, and supply chains, while enhancing the bloc's competitiveness and resilience.

The country also aims to strengthen coordination to ensure energy security, food security, and human security in order to reinforce the foundations for sustainable development in the region.

Third, Viet Nam will work to further deepen ASEAN cooperation with partners to effectively mobilize external resources for ASEAN's development priorities.

From that perspective, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will co-chair the Mekong-ASEAN Summit to promote connectivity and sustainable development while narrowing development gap in the subregion, thus contributing to ASEAN Community building.

In addition to the summits, Prime Minister Le is also expected to meet with leaders of foreign countries and international organizations in order to further strengthen political trust, to promote the implementation of bilateral agreements, and to expand cooperation opportunities./.