Vietnam's FM Le Hoai Trung urges stronger ASEAN ties and EU cooperation at Manila summit

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoài Trung attended the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM‑59) in Manila on 23‑24 July 2026. He emphasized that ASEAN+3 remains a strategic platform for deeper economic integration, regional connectivity and resilience, calling for implementation of trade agreements and expanded cooperation in energy, food security, digital transformation and low‑carbon development.

During the sidelines of the summit, Le Hoài Trung met EU Commission Vice‑President Kaja Kallas. The two sides pledged to deepen the Vietnam‑EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, accelerate the EU‑Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and boost cooperation on green finance, renewable energy, technology transfer and maritime security, including progress on the East Sea Code of Conduct and the removal of the EU “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood.

He also held bilateral talks with Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, highlighting the 2023 green‑finance partnership and promising greater exchanges between governments, businesses and civil society. A meeting with Panama’s foreign minister underscored a rise in bilateral trade to US$474 million in 2025 and a willingness to expand cooperation in commerce, investment, shipping, aviation, telecoms and trans‑national crime prevention.

An Indonesian scholar noted Vietnam’s evolving role as a key architect of ASEAN, contributing across the political‑security, economic and socio‑cultural pillars, and reinforcing the bloc’s centrality amid great‑power competition. Overall, the minister’s statements aimed to cement Vietnam’s position as a proactive driver of regional stability, multilateralism and sustainable development.