Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc affirmed that ASEAN has always constituted a strategic choice and an absolute priority of Vietnamese foreign policy. Vietnam is ready to support and cooperate closely with member states, thereby contributing to building a united and prosperous ASEAN community.
Speaking at the ASEAN City Leaders’ Meeting under the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026 on June 8 afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc said ASEAN is entering a crucial phase to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 amid profound changes global.
Intensifying strategic competition, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and new technologies, and the impact of non-traditional security threats require ASEAN to strengthen its resilience. In this context, ASEAN cities, which concentrate populations, resources, technologies, innovations and new engines of growth, constitute a major asset.
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| Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc delivered a speech at the event. |
In this context, Mr. Pham Gia Tuc affirmed that city autonomy is the foundation of national autonomy and ASEAN as a whole.
In addition to significant opportunities, ASEAN cities face increasingly complex challenges. From climate change to the pressure on infrastructure and public services, including the demands of the ecological and digital transition and the broad impacts of new technologies, these challenges are interdisciplinary and cross-border. ASEAN’s goal by 2045 is to build “a community capable of meeting the challenges of future urbanization by leveraging modern technologies and advanced infrastructure, while promoting the development of smart and sustainable cities.”
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that to achieve these goals, ASEAN cities cannot act alone and need close cooperation among all ASEAN cities and urban areas. Strengthening connectivity, sharing experiences, mobilizing resources and promoting concrete cooperation among ASEAN cities must become a top priority.
“ASEAN has always been a strategic choice and an absolute priority of Vietnamese foreign policy. After more than 30 years of membership in ASEAN, and with a proactive and responsible spirit, we have always been and will always be ready to cooperate closely with member states to build a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable ASEAN, placing the people of ASEAN at the center of our concerns,” said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc.
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Vietnam is entering a new era of development, determined to achieve double-digit growth between 2026 and 2030. To achieve this, it is simultaneously implementing three major strategic axes: the strengthening of its institutions, the development of highly qualified human resources and the construction of modern infrastructure, urban areas playing a driving role.
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| Les délégués participant à l’événement |
The Vietnamese government has made green, sustainable and people-centered urban development a constant strategic orientation, closely linked to the priorities of regional integration and connectivity. Drawing on its experience in urban development, Vietnam recognizes that digital transformation, green growth and regional connectivity are not separate objectives, but rather complementary pillars aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens and strengthening their ability to adapt to future challenges.
On this basis, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc proposed four main areas of discussion for the Conference.
First, we must create resilient, people-centered cities. In this context, ASEAN cities need to move from a reactive to a proactive approach to the future; from finding solutions to individual problems to creating highly resilient ecosystems in the face of development challenges.
Second, there is a need to mobilize and connect resources for urban development. Specifically, in order to effectively leverage the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026-2035, it is essential to proactively develop high-quality projects and strengthen cooperation to access financial resources, technologies, knowledge and expertise in partner management.
Third, we need to build a knowledge and innovation network among ASEAN cities. One of ASEAN’s greatest strengths is its diversity of urban development models and experiences. We have Singapore, with its cutting-edge innovation ecosystem, Luang Prabang, which combines development and preservation of heritage, Jakarta, a megacity of tens of millions of inhabitants, and Dili, a young but ambitious city. We need to transform this diversity into a shared ASEAN-wide knowledge base through experience sharing, human resource training, pilot cooperation and implementation of concrete projects.
Fourth, commitments must be translated into concrete actions and tangible results. The initiatives mentioned today must be translated into clearly defined, achievable cooperation programs that bring concrete benefits to the population.
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| Delegates pose for a photo during the event. |
Citing the proverb “A single tree cannot make a forest, but three trees together can make a high mountain,” Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc stressed that this spirit of solidarity, cooperation and shared development has been the strength of ASEAN for nearly six decades. He expressed confidence that, in the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility, ASEAN cities will continue to strengthen their connectivity, share experiences and jointly create new development engines, thus concretely contributing to the construction of an ASEAN Community resilient, sustainable and human-centered.
Selon Diep Thao/VOV.VN
Source : https://baovinhlong.com.vn/thoi-su/202606/asean-la-uu-tien-hang-dau-trong-chinh-sach-doi-ngoai-cua-viet-nam-8f44d49/
