Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Head of the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, attended the 36th ASEAN – Australia Forum organised in Melbourne on February 6.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Ministerof Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Head of the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting(SOM) delegation of Vietnam, attended the 36th ASEAN – Australia Forumorganised in Melbourne on February 6.
In his speech, the Vietnamese diplomat laid stress on the significance of the cooperationto narrow the development and sub-regional development gap to building theASEAN Community.
He spoke highly of the achievements that both sides have obtained in this field, especially Australia’s support for ASEAN member states to roll outthe Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), and for the development of theMekong sub-region.
Regarding measures to bolster cooperation in these areas in the time ahead,Viet suggested Australia institutionalise cooperation mechanisms so as toimprove the efficiency of cooperation between Australia and Mekong sub-regionalcountries.
At the forum, ASEAN and Australian officials expressed their delight at theprogress in the bilateral relations over the past time, noting that all action linesof the ASEAN – Australia cooperation plan for the 2020-2024 period have beencarried out, with many completed one year ahead of schedule.
They commended the implementation outcomes of the ASEAN – Australia Comprehensive StrategicPartnership, which was established in 2021, particularly activities held withinthe 204-million-AUD Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative.
They also agreed to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in aneffective and practical way for mutual benefit, and conduct earlynegotiations to develop an action plan for cooperation for the 2025-2029 period to submit to theforeign ministers for approval at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laosin July. The action plan will prioritise collaboration in the fields of economy, trade,investment, education and training, management of natural disasters, climate changeresponse, green economy and energy transition, among others.
Touching on regional and international issues of mutual concern, they voicedtheir concern over the escalating tensions, violence and conflicts across theglobe, and underscored the need to work together to maintain peace, securityand stability in the region.
At the 36th ASEAN – Australia Forum organised in Melbourne on February 6 (Photo: VNA)
They also said that conflicts and disputes must be settled via peaceful meansin accordance with the basic principles of international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Viet took this occasion to ask Australia for its continuing support for ASEAN’scentral role in the regional structure as well as the bloc’s stance on the EastSea issue and efforts to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on theConduct of Parties (DOC), and promptly build a practical Code of Conduct(COC) in the East Sea in accordance with international law.
Officials of both sides also concurred to joinhands to organise the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit in Melbourne in March tomark the 50th anniversary of their Dialogue Relations./.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to prioritise the quality of education and public health, implement clean energy transition, adopt sustainable agriculture practices, improve urban planning and accelerate digitalisation to achieve sustainable development.
Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, on January 28 led a delegation to attend a meeting in Luang Prabang province, Laos to review and complete preparations for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat).
Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien led a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to the 13th ASEAN-Japan Defence Vice-Ministerial Forum that opened in Tokyo on January 30.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has made a series of recommendations on measures to step up cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) while attending the 24th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Brussels on February 2.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet (Photo: VNA) 
At the 36th ASEAN – Australia Forum organised in Melbourne on February 6 (Photo: VNA) 
