HCMC – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam has called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost unity and embrace innovation to navigate regional challenges.
Lam delivered a keynote policy speech at a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 10, on the occasion of his official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat.
In his address, Lam highlighted recent global shifts that are reshaping how nations interact, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. He pointed out the increasing strategic competition among major powers, with new technologies and unconventional security threats adding further complexity.
However, he emphasized that these challenges could actually spur ASEAN member states to work more closely together, build stronger resilience, and explore new avenues for growth.
The Vietnamese leader reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to a foreign policy of peace, independence, and non-alignment, emphasizing the “four no’s” principle: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases, and no use or threat of force in international relations. He stressed that Vietnam intends to work more actively with its ASEAN partners to tackle pressing issues, uphold international law, and foster an inclusive environment for dialogue.
Reflecting on ASEAN’s evolution, the Party chief praised the bloc for bold decisions that have shaped its success. He recalled how ASEAN accelerated plans for a regional free trade area during the late-1990s financial crisis and subsequently moved forward the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2007. These moves paved the way for a stronger, more cohesive regional framework, capable of weathering global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.
Lam added that Vietnam’s three-decade journey within ASEAN has been central to the country’s broader international integration.
Since joining in 1995, Vietnam has built diplomatic ties with 194 countries and signed trade agreements with over 60 economies, emerging as one of the world’s top 40 economies and a key destination for foreign investment.
Lam also pointed to significant areas where ASEAN can thrive, such as digital transformation, technology-driven innovation, and green growth. These fields, he remarked, are prime opportunities for the region to diversify supply chains, expand its economic footprint, and build resilience against external shocks. By centering cooperation on shared values and mutual benefit, ASEAN can maintain its central role in engaging global partners and shaping the regional order.
Looking ahead, Lam urged ASEAN members to collectively address internal challenges, notably in Myanmar, and support Timor-Leste’s aspiration to join the bloc. He underlined that Vietnam, driven by a vision of becoming an industrialized nation and high-income economy, would actively collaborate with neighbors to ensure ASEAN remains unified, forward-looking, and globally influential.
