Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse made a landmark visit to the ASEAN Secretariat at its headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership in the 10-nation bloc.

The visit was welcomed by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and his spouse, along with ASEAN Secretariat leaders, ambassadors, and heads of delegations from ASEAN member states.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this visit underscored Vietnam’s strategic commitment to ASEAN, reaffirming the organization’s priority status in Vietnam’s foreign policy agenda in the modern era.

This marked the first-ever visit by a Vietnamese Party General Secretary to the ASEAN Secretariat, highlighting the nation’s deepening engagement with the regional bloc.

During discussions with ASEAN Secretary-General Hourn and the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to ASEAN, Party leader Lam emphasized Vietnam’s longstanding dedication to ASEAN’s growth over the past three decades.

He pledged Vietnam’s continued contributions to the bloc’s development, drawing from its own experience to further ASEAN’s shared goals.

Lam expressed Vietnam’s pride in ASEAN’s achievements and its evolution into a globally influential organization. He stressed the importance of maintaining ASEAN’s unity and cohesiveness, particularly in today’s complex global landscape, as unity is essential for overcoming challenges.

Furthermore, he spotlighted the need for bilateral cooperation between member states to reinforce ASEAN’s collective strength and development.

The Vietnamese Party leader also commended the vital role played by the ASEAN Secretariat and CPR in coordinating efforts among member states.

He urged these institutions to work closely with ASEAN nations to successfully realize the ASEAN Vision 2025 and deploy the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 through strategic initiatives.

The host hailed Lam’s visit as a historic milestone highlighting ASEAN’s crucial role in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

He emphasized that this visit was particularly significant as ASEAN prepares to commemorate two major anniversaries in 2025: Vietnam’s 30th year of ASEAN membership and the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community’s establishment.

He also acknowledged Vietnam’s substantial contributions to ASEAN and expressed hope that Vietnam would continue to play a leadership role within the organization.

Following his meeting with the ASEAN Secretary-General, Lam and his spouse attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership, where he delivered a significant speech highlighting ASEAN’s achievement over its six-decade journey.

In his remarks, Lam outlined both the opportunities and challenges ASEAN faces in an increasingly multipolar world shaped by technological advancements and emerging non-traditional security threats. He presented key strategies to help ASEAN grow stronger and reinforce its central role in the regional architecture.

Accordingly, he stressed the need for bold strategies and a forward-thinking mindset to advance regional connectivity and cooperation. He also underscored the importance of continuously strengthening intra-bloc solidarity and strategic autonomy while enhancing economic resilience.

Lam stated that achieving these goals requires reinforcing ASEAN’s core values, adopting innovative development solutions, and improving the efficiency of the ASEAN Secretariat and its affiliated bodies. 

Reaffirming ASEAN as a cornerstone of Vietnam’s foreign policy, Lam emphasized that ASEAN is an integral part of Vietnam’s development and international integration strategy.

Over the years, Vietnam has expanded its diplomatic reach, now maintaining relations with 194 countries and establishing comprehensive, strategic, or comprehensive strategic partnerships with 35 nations, including all ASEAN members and key ASEAN partners.

Party chief Lam reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to proactively contributing to global politics, economics, and civilization.

He underscored Vietnam’s strong support for ASEAN as a key multilateral cooperation mechanism, pledging that Vietnam would continue to uphold its responsibilities within the bloc by fostering creativity, adaptability, and effectiveness in its ASEAN engagements.

To commemorate the occasion, Party leader Lam and his spouse, alongside the ASEAN Secretary-General and his spouse, joined in a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate Vietnam’s 30-year journey with ASEAN.

The event was followed by a special cultural performance by Vietnamese artists, symbolizing the country’s enduring commitment to regional unity and cultural exchange.

Established in 1967, ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprises ten member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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