General Secretary To Lam makes historic first official visit to ASEAN Headquarters

This is also the first official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee.

The official visit features a presentation of painting from General Secretary To Lam, a tree planting ceremony, a high-level meeting, a policy speech, followed by a reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Viet Nam’s membership in ASEAN, marking its vital contributions to ASEAN Community building and integration since 1995. 

The series of events were attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Kim Kao Hourn, the diplomatic corps in Jakarta, entities associated with ASEAN, academia, business representatives as well as the ASEAN Secretariat staff members

In his policy speech, To highlighted the bloc's achievements over the past six decades and its important contributions to and its central role in maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

He also pointed out new challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN, fundamental changes in socio-economic life brought by science and technology boom, and the rise of non-traditional security issues such as climate change and cyber security.

Against that backdrop, ASEAN needs innovative thinking and sharp strategy to create breakthroughs in regional connectivity and cooperation, the Party leader suggested.

He underscored the importance of continued efforts to consolidate intra-bloc solidarity and strategic autonomy and enhance economic resilience through adopting creative development solutions and improving the effectiveness of building standards of conduct as well as the performance of the ASEAN Secretariat and its affiliated bodies.

General Secretary To Lam reassured that ASEAN remains a key pillar in Viet Nam's foreign policy and an integral part of its development and integration strategy.

With ASEAN as the starting point, Viet Nam has integrated broadly and deeply into the global community and set up diplomatic relations with 194 countries worldwide, including comprehensive, strategic, or comprehensive strategic partnerships with 35 nations, To emphasized.

Viet Nam is now a member of more than 70 regional and international forums and organizations, and the country has joined a network of free trade agreements (FTAs) involving more than 60 countries and economies across the world, positioning it among the world's 40 largest economies and the top 20 in terms of foreign investment attraction and trade scale.

To stressed that Viet Nam stands ready to make more positive and proactive contributions to global politics, economy and human civilization.

Viet Nam will promote its sense of responsibility, actively contribute to the common work of the association with creative mindset, innovative approaches, flexible effective implementation, and drastic actions, he said.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Ambassadors and Heads of Delegations of several ASEAN member countries and partners and a representative of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) highly appreciated Viet Nam's proactive and positive role and important contributions to the process of building the ASEAN Community over the past three decades.

Viet Nam officially joined ASEAN on July 28, 1995, becoming the seventh member of the bloc. Viet Nam has played an active and responsible role in ASEAN, contributing significantly to the bloc's growth and development.

Viet Nam continues to view ASEAN as a top priority in its foreign policy and a core pillar in its multilateral diplomacy strategy. Recently, Viet Nam successfully hosted the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 in Ha Noi, reaffirming its commitment to regional cooperation and leadership./.