Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng proposed three strategic directions at the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila on November 15.
Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng arrived in the Philippines on November 14 for the summit. Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano welcomed them according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, as GMA Network reported.
ASEAN leaders began arriving in the host country on November 14, with the summit scheduled to take place from November 16 to 18 and the opening ceremony set for November 15.
Leaders witnessed the unveiling of a new regional emblem during the opening ceremony. Timor-Leste gained admission as the 11th member. The event featured the deposit of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) with the ASEAN Secretary-General. Hla Aung from Myanmar received the 2026 ASEAN Prize for community resilience and disaster response, as Vietnam+ noted.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng spoke at the Philippine International Convention Centre. He outlined three core pillars for the bloc, noting that the region faces strategic opportunities alongside challenges requiring enhanced solidarity, courage, and shared strategic vision.
The Prime Minister urged members to foster dynamic, innovative, and resilient development. He called for implementing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and securing supply chains, energy, and food security, BÁO SÀI GÒN GIẢI PHÓNG reported. He also supported the ASEAN Power Grid and the Manila Energy Initiative.
He introduced the “Space for Development and Resilience” initiative to share space data and develop the regional space economy. He welcomed the completion of negotiations to establish the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). Vietnam will coordinate closely with Indonesia, Thailand, and other members to operationalize the center, he said.
“International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development” the Prime Minister also proposed that ASEAN take the lead in implementing the UN resolution, said the Prime Minister.
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. invited the Vietnamese Government leader to the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on November 14. He spoke under the theme “Cùng chèo lái tương lai chung.”
Leaders adopted 87 documents at the conclusion of the plenary meetings. The documents span all three community pillars. They cover strategic trade management, artificial intelligence growth for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, oil supply security, and disaster response.