PM Le Minh Hung affirmed his commitment to working alongside other ASEAN leaders to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation in an increasingly substantive and effective manner.
Speaking on the occasion of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, ambassadors from Laos, Japan, the Philippines, China and South Africa highlighted Vietnam's growing international standing, its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, and its commitment to peace, cooperation and sustainable development.
The visits also took place at a time when the Philippines is serving as ASEAN Chair in 2026, Singapore is preparing to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, and Vietnam is set to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.
Vietnam always values and wishes to further deepen its friendly neighbourly relations with the Philippines in all areas on the basis of a shared commitment to peace, stability and respect for international law, affirmed General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam.
Both sides emphasised the importance of international law and the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the principles of equality, cooperation, and mutual benefit; reaffirmed peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea; and stressed the need to resolve disputes peacefully on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The trip marks the Vietnamese leader’s first visit to the Philippines as Party General Secretary and State President. It takes place as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.
The two sides are expected to hold in-depth discussions on major orientations aimed at promoting the Strategic Partnership in a more robust, substantive and effective manner in the new stage of development, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that the Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the summit’s success, reflecting the foreign policy orientation set out by the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which continues to place ASEAN at the centre of Vietnam’s regional engagement, as well as its commitment to proactive, positive and responsible contributions to ASEAN Community-building process.
According to the Tourism Information Centre under the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Filipino visitors to Vietnam has recovered and grown impressively. Filipino tourists are particularly fond of destinations such as Da Nang, Sa Pa, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang, as well as Vietnam’s distinctive cuisine.