Vietnam-Myanmar traditional friendship and coopertion. (Photo: VNA)
Speaking at the closing session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said the forum addressed issues of critical importance to all ASEAN members and the bloc’s partners, while creating a platform to discuss emerging and long-term challenges facing the region.
Vietnam and Timor-Leste possess substantial potential and complementary strengths to broaden cooperation for the benefit of their people and to contribute to a stable, resilient and sustainable region.
Military units at all levels have carried out organisational reforms in a coordinated manner, particularly in enhancing the capacity of military command units at the commune, ward and special administrative zone levels. Difficulties arising during the implementation of the two-tier local administration model were promptly addressed, helping ensure the fulfilment of defence and military tasks.
Japan remains Vietnam's largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) and its top partner in labour cooperation, while ranking third in investment and fourth in trade and tourism. Cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchanges has also continued to flourish, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau noted.
ASEAN must continuously enhance its adaptability, resilience and strategic autonomy as it faces mounting challenges. In the immediate term, it should realise commitments under the Declaration on Responding to the Middle East crisis adopted at the 48th ASEAN Summit in May 2026.
The Timor-Leste PM expressed admiration for Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development, saying that this is a source of inspiration for many countries, including his country.
In the morning, a thematic session on ASEAN–US cooperation was held with the participation of US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. This marked the first time a senior official from the current US administration had addressed the forum directly, reaffirming Washington’s strong commitment to the region.
Welcoming the Cambodian delegation, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Doan Anh said its participation in the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 has contributed to the event’s success and reflected the friendship, solidarity and political trust shared by the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
The Vietnamese NA always values AIPA’s role and regards it as a key pillar of parliamentary diplomacy, a practical mechanism through which member parliaments can contribute to building the ASEAN Community.
Recent developments have demonstrated that policies shaped through listening to public opinion have become a powerful source of social consensus and public trust, enabling the Party, the State and the people to work together toward more ambitious goals and a longer-term vision for national development.
In recent years, bilateral defence cooperation between Vietnam and the US has been implemented effectively and pragmatically, in line with the overall relationship.
A good deed today is itself a vivid expression of patriotic emulation, the leader said, noting that patriotism is demonstrated not only during historic moments but also through responsible actions, humane gestures and contributions to society.
The NA Standing Committee will review and adopt one ordinance and one resolution to further fine-tune the legal framework governing the People's Courts under the newly restructured organisational system.
Vietnam’s continued hosting of the event demonstrates its goodwill and sense of responsibility in contributing to discussions on regional issues and to ASEAN’s overall development, he noted, adding that it reflects Vietnam’s growing influence within the bloc and its rising stature in the region and the world.
Resilience is not synonymous with isolation. Rather, it involves bolstering internal capacity while simultaneously expanding connectivity, said Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong.
Thayer observed that Vietnam is increasingly emerging as a regional hub not only for manufacturing but also for diplomacy, supported by an expanding network of international partnerships. In his view, AFF 2026 represents an open and forward-looking agenda in which Vietnam acts as a trailblazer, proposing and advancing new ideas for regional cooperation.
Senator Giulio Terzi described the Italian Senate's ratification of the treaties on judicial and legal cooperation in criminal matters as a particularly significant step in the overall relationship between Italy and Vietnam.
Entering a new development phase, Vietnam regards science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and international integration as key drivers of rapid and sustainable growth.
Huan said the meeting served as vivid evidence of the strong friendship and cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the two parties, as well as between Vietnam and the two countries.
