The Vietnamese delegation, led by Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, put forward several proposals aimed at shaping the future of inter-regional relations.
The ministers agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, and economic development; accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN–EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA); promote the digital economy based on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA); and explore the possibility of an inter-regional free trade agreement (FTA) in the long term. Both sides also committed to addressing climate change, environmental protection, and green transition through initiatives such as Global Gateway, SCOPE, and the ASEAN–EU Green Initiative.
In his remarks, Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized that Vietnam and ASEAN highly value the EU’s role and noted the shared strategic interests between the two regions. He called for strengthened strategic dialogue and mutual understanding to effectively manage common challenges.
He also proposed concrete measures to boost economic cooperation, including accelerating CATA ratification and aiming to adopt an ASEAN–EU Digital Trade Framework by 2026. Vietnam’s proposals underscored its proactive role in bridging the two major economic regions.
