(Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

2025 marks 10 years since the establishment of the ASEAN Community and 20 years since the founding of the East Asia Summit. This year is also a transition period for ASEAN as it concludes the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and embarks on a new strategic direction – the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

46th ASEAN Summit a milestone

Unlike previous ASEAN Community Visions which set out orientations for 10 years, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 adopts a longer-term, 20-year outlook. It sets the foundation for ASEAN’s cooperation efforts over the next two decades and is accompanied by a series of strategic plans that will guide the bloc’s collective activities through 2045.

Facing rapid transformations and rising global challenges, breakthroughs in science and technology, escalating geopolitical and geo-economic tensions, and increasing non-traditional security threats, ASEAN must seize opportunities and overcome obstacles to thrive. The theme of the 46th ASEAN Summit, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” underscores the importance of unity and resilience in addressing these complex issues.

Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Head of the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN, said: “ASEAN must remain united and strengthen cooperation to fulfill its plan for the next 20 years. It will need to take a phased approach to implementing priorities in alignment with its specific conditions reality and demands in each phase, and mobilize appropriate resources.”

The “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future,” the “ASEAN Community Vision 2045,” and accompanying strategic plans will guide ASEAN's development in the coming time.

For a strong, self-reliant ASEAN

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam has been an active, proactive, and responsible member of ASEAN, contributing to the bloc’s unity and strength. At the 46th ASEAN Summit, Vietnam, with renewed potential and international standing, reaffirmed its readiness to make greater contributions to the regional agenda.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet said: "Vietnam will work with other member states to reach consensus on three groups of priorities. They encompass reaffirming the values and vitality of multilateralism, promoting dialogue and trust-building, and upholding international law; launching a roadmap for building the ASEAN Community, aiming for a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN; and enhancing intra-bloc and external connectivity, optimizing existing agreements, and supporting a fair, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system.”

Vietnam has contributed to developing the post-2025 ASEAN Vision and currently plays a key role in the high-level task force drafting the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai said: "This time, we're expecting also a very good outcome for this official visit. I think most important is to further establish the political trust between the two leaders, between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. We also work to increase trade and investment between the two countries, the Halal industry, and cooperation in new frameworks, for example green energy and skill development as well as people to people exchanges."