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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang (right) and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn |
During the conversation, General Phan Van Giang thanked Dr. Kao Kim Hourn for attending and speaking at the AFF for three straight years, describing it as a demonstration of the Secretary-General’s care and strong support for the event. He also acknowledged the important contributions of the ASEAN Secretary-General and the ASEAN Secretariat to the bloc’s common agenda and their support for Vietnam in recent years.
The host stressed the importance of effectively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its accompanying Strategic Plans amid increasingly complex regional and global developments. He noted that ASEAN must continue strengthening its adaptability, resilience, and strategic autonomy, while prioritizing the implementation of commitments outlined in the Declaration on Responding to the Middle East Crisis adopted at the 48th ASEAN Summit in May 2026.
General Phan Van Giang emphasized that ASEAN’s foremost long-term priority remains maintaining unity, strengthening its central role, and ensuring peace, security, and stability in the region to create favorable conditions for development and prosperity.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang receives ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. |
To sustain its position as a regional growth center, ASEAN should further boost intra-bloc trade, maximize the benefits of its network of free trade agreements, and tap into new growth drivers, he said. He also underscored the need to place people at the center of policies on education, healthcare, climate change, and environmental protection.
Regarding external relations, General Phan Van Giang called for deeper engagement with partners while ensuring that expanded ties are matched by more effective and substantive cooperation. He also highlighted the achievements of ASEAN defense and military cooperation, particularly through the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to contributing actively to these mechanisms.
For his part, the ASEAN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and contributions to ASEAN, describing the country as a model for sustainable development and a key member of the bloc.
He noted that Vietnam’s growing stature was clearly reflected in the inspiring address delivered by General Secretary and President To Lam at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue. The ASEAN Secretary-General welcomed the views and proposals shared by General Phan Van Giang and pledged that the ASEAN Secretariat would continue supporting initiatives by member states, including Vietnam, to advance the goals of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn also commended the success of the third AFF in terms of its theme, content, and organization, noting that the event is steadily establishing itself as a reputable regional platform for dialogue and making meaningful contribution to policymaking and the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Translated by Tran Hoai