Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Hanoi on November 15, concluding successfully his fresh trip to the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, at the invitation of the host’s President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth from left) at the signing ceremony of ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers |
The PM got involved in nearly 30 bilateral and multilateral activities while attending the summit and relevant events from November 12-14. His participation demonstrated Vietnam’s active and responsible contributions to building an ASEAN of peace, stability and self-reliance and a region open to extra-bloc countries.
On November 14, PM Phuc and leaders from other ASEAN countries joined the signing of “ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers”.
He also engaged in discussions of measures to implement more effectively the ASEAN Community Vision through 2025 and improve the bloc’s operational efficiency as well as exchanged regional and international issues.
Speaking at meetings, PM Phuc urged ASEAN to pay more attention to the benefits of people and the building of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and development of enterprises through increasing intra-bloc economic links and mutual assistance.
He suggested promoting the central role and position of the bloc in the international arena and striving for regional peace, security and prosperity.
The PM affirmed Vietnam’s determination and commitment to join hands with other members to build a strong, self-reliant and people-centred community.
He also shared Vietnam’s stance in regional and international issues of mutual concerns, including the recent developments in the East Sea.
He said documents adopted at this year’s summit must fully reflect principles and viewpoints as stipulated in the Joint Communiqué of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which are ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; addressing disputes via peaceful measures in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS); respecting legal and diplomatic processes; and implementing comprehensively and seriously the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
The PM welcomed ASEAN’s and China’s adoption of a framework for the Code of Conduct in the East Sea and stressed the need to promote negotiations for a feasible and legally-binding COC.
Vietnam hopes ASEAN partner countries will continue contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea in the spirit of respecting international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, he said.
On the occasion, the PM met with his Cambodian and Lao counterparts, held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and hosted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, to exchange measures to step up bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasised the need to further improve institutions and policy frameworks, develop digital infrastructure and data resources, and create the necessary conditions for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to become new drivers of economic growth.
Prof. Huang Rihan of Huaqiao University in China’s Fujian province said the Vietnamese leader’s address highlighted three major crises currently facing the world - the crisis of the international order, the crisis of development models, and the crisis of strategic trust.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang said that alongside the robust growth of relations between the two countries, defence cooperation has continued to develop extensively and intensively, becoming increasingly practical and effective.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, and opened for signature in Hanoi in October 2025, the convention is the first global multilateral treaty dedicated to combating cybercrime.
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.
Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, expressed her emotion at seeing the children’s optimism despite difficult circumstances, noting that both Vietnam and the Philippines place children at the centre of their development policies, from education, health care to child protection.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation departed Manila on June 1, concluding a successful state visit to the Republic of the Philippines from May 31 to June 1 at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.
Participants reviewed rental housing demand in each area, considering different market segments and target groups. They also examined the gap between supply and demand, and pinpointed issues in policy frameworks.
Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to elevate their relationship to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, opening a new phase of cooperation in politics, defence and security, economic ties and other key areas.
Vietnam and the Philippines on June 1 issued a Joint Statement on the Enhanced Strategic Partnership during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam’s state visit to the Philippines.
Economic cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines should move to a new level, with greater emphasis on quality, depth and substance, as the two countries seek to maximise opportunities under their newly upgraded Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse are paying state visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1 at the invitation of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.
General Secretary and President To Lam encouraged the Vietnamese in the Philippines to remain united, abide by local laws, contribute practically to the homeland and continue fostering friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
By moving from crisis response to proactive risk reduction, Vietnam has positioned itself as a responsible and mature “architect” of regional peace, said a Malaysia-based expert.
The President Ho Chi Minh monument in the ASEAN Garden holds profound historical, cultural, and diplomatic significance, reflecting the friendship between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the solidarity within the ASEAN community.
The trip demonstrates Vietnam's high regard for its friendship and cooperation with the Philippines, as well as with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam on May 30 met with leaders of major Singaporean corporations, technology companies, financial institutions and banks with long-standing investments and business operations in Vietnam.
General Secretary and President Lam expressed his hope that the community will remain united, preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural identity, and strengthen ties with the homeland.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in emerging and high-potential fields, including digital transformation, green economy, clean energy transition, new technologies, innovation, smart finance, supply chain resilience, financial centre development and food security.
At the A*STAR Model Factory, one of Singapore’s flagship research and application facilities for smart industry, innovation and digital transformation in production, General Secretary and President Lam expressed his impression of Singapore’s approach in creating conditions for enterprises to directly test technologies before making large-scale investments.