ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung meet in Hanoi on January 14, 2026. (Source: MOFA)

The ASEAN Secretary-General expressed confidence that the Communist Party of Vietnam would successfully organize its 14th National Congress, making important contributions to national development and further enhancing Vietnam’s role and standing in the region and the world.

He affirmed that he would attend the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) to be held in Vietnam this year, noting that the event would support ASEAN member states in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and related strategic plans.

Minister Trung said Vietnam’s upcoming Party Congress would set comprehensive development goals and orientations for the country in the new era.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as multilateralization and diversification of international relations, stressing that ASEAN holds a strategic position in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

Kao Kim Hourn is visiting Vietnam to attend the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN).