Vietnam vital piece of resilient ASEAN: Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn
Vietnam has helped elevate ASEAN’s global profile by supporting the bloc’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. With a population of around 100 million and an abundant workforce, Vietnam is an influential member of ASEAN, said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn in the interview (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is an important pillar in terms of politics, diplomacy, security, socio-economy, and culture, which contributes to making ASEAN stronger, more resilient and dynamic, said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn in a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The interview took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia ahead of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Indonesia and official visits to the ASEAN Secretariat and Singapore from March 9-13.
Stressing the importance of To Lam’s first official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, Dr Kao described it as a historic milestone, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership (1995-2025), and emphasised that the visit will reinforce Vietnam’s central role in the bloc.
During the visit, To Lam is scheduled to deliver a policy speech to ASEAN Secretariat officials, ambassadors, permanent representatives from ASEAN member states, and representatives of ASEAN’s dialogue and development partners.
According to the ASEAN leader, the visit is of unprecedented importance, as Vietnam has always played a very proactive and positive role in the bloc, and made ASEAN one of the top priorities in its foreign policy.
The visit also comes at a pivotal time as ASEAN nears the final phase of its ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and prepares to launch the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 in May, he said, expressing his belief that To Lam’s visit would further enhance ASEAN’s image, credibility, and vision both regionally and globally.
Reflecting on Vietnam’s 30-year journey within ASEAN, Dr Kao praised the country’s efforts in promoting peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region, and in strengthening ASEAN’s external relations.
He described Vietnam as a vital ASEAN member, with its development, transformation, and growth making significant contributions - across political, diplomatic, security, economic, cultural, and social fields — to strengthening the bloc’s resilience and dynamism.
Vietnam has helped elevate ASEAN’s global profile by supporting the bloc’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. With a population of around 100 million and an abundant workforce, Vietnam is an influential member of ASEAN, he affirmed.
As ASEAN moves towards adopting its 2045 Community Vision with four new strategic plans, Dr Kao highlighted Vietnam’s consistent and proactive contributions across various sectors. He expressed confidence that Vietnam, having made remarkable achievements over the past 30 years, would remain a key force in shaping a dynamic, creative, resilient, and people-centred ASEAN.
🍎 With ASEAN’s economy rising from the world’s ninth to fifth largest, the bloc aims to reach the fourth place by 2030 — a goal that Dr Kao said will require strong engagement from all member states, with Vietnam playing a crucial part./.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse will pay a state visit to Indonesia, an official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat based in the country, and an official visit to Singapore from March 9-13.
Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Indonesia, official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat based in the country, and official visit to Singapore from March 9-13 demonstrates the consistent implementation of Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, and multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the Vietnamese Government will always stand by businesses to foster breakthroughs, unite strengths, and shape the future, keeping ASEAN a dynamic, innovative, and growth-centered region that benefits all member countries
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
