Vietnamese Prime Minister proposes three priorities at ASEAN–UN Summit

The Vietnamese Government leader made the proposals while delivering remarks at the 15th ASEAN–UN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 27.

First, he underscored the need for both sides to effectively promote multilateralism, uphold international law, and consider dialogue and cooperation as the primary instruments for preventing and peacefully resolving disputes. He called on the UN to share its experience and expertise in preventive diplomacy, and to support ASEAN in establishing early warning and conflict-prevention mechanisms as well as crisis-management frameworks.

Second, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of building and modernizing governance systems to meet the demands of the new era; promoting green and digital growth drivers; and fostering collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data governance, and multilateral trade — toward inclusive, cohesive, and responsible development.

Third, he stressed the need to ensure comprehensive social welfare, placing people at the center of development; promote green growth and a just transition; narrow the development gap; and mobilize diverse resources for green and digital transformation, climate adaptation, and an equitable, inclusive, and efficient social security system.

The Prime Minister also called for the effective implementation of global commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Pact for the Future, and the Global Digital Compact.

During the summit, ASEAN leaders described the ASEAN–UN partnership as a bridge connecting regional cooperation with global agendas, built upon shared goals of maintaining peace, security, and stability, and promoting sustainable development, as well as on the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

Both sides affirmed their commitment to supporting multilateralism, adhering to international law, and promoting a rules-based international order. They agreed to enhance the ASEAN–UN Comprehensive Partnership in a way that complements each other's development strategies.

They also agreed to promptly and effectively implement the newly adopted ASEAN–UN Plan of Action for 2026–2030, focusing on key areas such as combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking; humanitarian assistance; mine clearance; climate change response; disaster management; and sustainable development.

The two sides concurred in strengthening cooperation in digital transformation, cybercrime prevention, environmental protection, public health, and AI governance.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised ASEAN as an important pillar of multilateralism and proposed four priority areas for future ASEAN–UN collaboration: peacebuilding and conflict prevention; sustainable development and financial system reform; climate action; and digital transformation and cybersecurity./.