In a recent gathering in Manila for the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, Vietnam has urged a bolstered alliance between ASEAN and the United States across several critical sectors, including trade, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and energy transition. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung emphasized the necessity of completing a comprehensive new work program promptly, lauding the United States’ dedication to peace, stability, and growth within the region.
Minister Trung proposed that ASEAN and the United States should deepen their collaboration in pivotal areas such as trade and investment, the digital economy, semiconductors, and science and technology. He advocated for innovation in energy transition and regional energy connectivity, emphasizing the need for ongoing U.S. assistance in the Mekong sub-region. This support is crucial for initiatives like water management, climate change adaptation, infrastructure development, and workforce training.
Addressing regional security concerns, the Vietnamese minister highlighted the need for peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue and adherence to international law. He expressed appreciation for the United States’ endorsement of ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea and called for U.S. efforts to bolster an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional framework centered on ASEAN’s principles.
The conference also touched on international issues, with Trung advocating for enhanced dialogue in the Middle East and the reestablishment of secure maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz. He underscored the importance of upholding freedom of navigation under international law.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced Washington’s commitment to ASEAN, recognizing Southeast Asia as a region of significant strategic and economic value. Rubio assured continued U.S. investments in supply chains, the digital economy, energy security, power-grid connectivity, and civil nuclear cooperation. Both ASEAN and the United States agreed to strengthen economic ties, intensify cooperation in high-value sectors, and enhance people-to-people exchanges. They also pledged to improve coordination in addressing challenges like terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams.