According to VNA, the 48th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is scheduled to take place in Philippines from May 7 - 8, and is expected to outline key strategic directions for ASEAN’s next phase of development.

On this occasion, a correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency in Jakarta held an interview with Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, on the summit’s priorities as well as the significance of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung’s first attendance in his new role.

Amid ongoing regional and global uncertainties, could you outline the key priorities of the summit, particularly in line with ASEAN 2026’s theme “steering a shared future”?

Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong: Over the past year, the region and the world have witnessed rapid and unpredictable changes. Escalating tensions in the Middle East have triggered ripple effects on energy prices, maritime transport, and global supply chains; strategic competition among major powers continues to intensify, placing direct pressure on Southeast Asia’s security and development environment.

At the same time, rising trade protectionism and declining confidence in multilateralism have made it increasingly urgent to strengthen regional solidarity.

The 2026 theme, “steering a shared future”, reflects ASEAN’s determination to share responsibility, act collectively, and jointly shape a common future to effectively respond to emerging challenges.

In this context, the 48th ASEAN Summit is expected to focus on three major priorities.

First, leaders will discuss a unified ASEAN approach to recent developments in the Middle East and their spillover impacts on the region. Shocks in energy prices, risks of supply disruptions, and volatility in key maritime routes require ASEAN to enhance coordination in ensuring energy security, food security, and critical supply chains.

In parallel, the protection and support of ASEAN citizens living, working, and studying in the Middle East remain an urgent priority. These issues have already been proactively discussed in recent special meetings, including two ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings on March 13 and April 13, a Special ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting on April 27, and a Special ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting on April 30, reflecting the bloc’s responsive and timely coordination.

Second, the summit will deliberate on directions to advance the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. As 2026 marks the first pivotal year in translating this vision into action, leaders will discuss measures to strengthen a peaceful and stable environment, uphold international law and shared norms, and ensure sustainable development space for the region.

On the economic front, ASEAN will continue to deepen intra-regional integration, including upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), accelerating negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) to support digital transformation, and expanding cooperation with partners under free trade agreements and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Harnessing new growth drivers such as the green economy, digital economy, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to enable ASEAN to make breakthroughs amid intensifying geo-economic competition.

Third, the summit will conduct a comprehensive review of international and regional developments, including the situation in the East Sea, policy adjustments by major partners, and emerging challenges in cybersecurity, technological security, and energy transition. Through this, ASEAN will continue to uphold its common voice and centrality based on respect for international law and support for multilateralism, deepen relations with partners, and contribute to maintaining a peaceful, stable, and conducive environment for development, while enhancing its role and standing regionally and globally.

What is the significance of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung’s participation in the 48th ASEAN Summit, his first as head of government, in the context of Vietnam’s implementation of the foreign policy set out at the 14th National Party Congress?

Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong: The 48th ASEAN Summit is particularly significant as it marks Prime Minister Le Minh Hung’s first overseas trip as head of the new government. His presence in Cebu clearly demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to consistently implementing the foreign policy line of the 14th National Party Congress: independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, along with diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

Within this broader framework, ASEAN continues to be affirmed as one of Vietnam’s top strategic priorities, representing a space closely linked to the country’s security and development.

In implementing the orientations of the 14th National Party Congress on enhancing and elevating multilateral diplomacy, as well as the directions set out in Conclusion 59 and Resolution 59 of the Politburo on Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN through 2030 and international integration in the new context, Vietnam is not only making responsible contributions but also proactively shaping cooperation agendas, proposing initiatives, and leading discussions on key regional issues.

The Prime Minister’s participation reflects a spirit of making substantive contributions to the region’s response to geopolitical volatility, energy and food shocks, and intensifying major power competition, including concrete initiatives such as an ASEAN response framework to spillover impacts from the Middle East situation.

Vietnam will closely coordinate with ASEAN member states to effectively implement the priorities of the 2026 Chairmanship and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, towards building a resilient, dynamic, and innovative community centered on its people.

Vietnam will also continue, together with ASEAN, to uphold international law, strengthen a peaceful and stable environment, expand economic connectivity, and deepen relations with partners, thereby further reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with ASEAN leaders to consolidate friendship, enhance political trust, and promote substantive and effective cooperation. These will be his first direct engagements with ASEAN leaders in his new capacity, contributing to positive momentum for both bilateral relations and the overall cohesion of the ASEAN Community.

Thank you very much.