Vietnam welcomes ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand: deputy premier

The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire on Monday effective midnight, in a bid to bring an end to their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fierce fighting, according to Reuters.

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday organized a reception commemorating the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the bloc's 58th founding anniversary.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Son presided over the event, which brought together ambassadors, heads of international organizations, and senior Vietnamese officials.

In his remarks, Deputy PM and Minister Son highlighted the historic significance of Vietnam’s decision to join ASEAN in 1995.

He said that both ASEAN and Vietnam share the aspiration of building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asian region.

Vietnam joined ASEAN with a spirit of humility, responsibility, and, most importantly, a commitment to long-term engagement, the Vietnamese official noted.

For Vietnam, ASEAN is not just a regional cooperation framework. The bloc is the first and most vital gateway to the country's regional integration and national development.

He recalled Vietnam’s contributions to major ASEAN milestones, including the realization of ASEAN-10, the signing of the ASEAN Charter, the establishment of the ASEAN Community, and most recently, the adoption of the 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.'

Vietnam has stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow member states and international partners in building a united, resilient, and forward-looking ASEAN.

Reflecting on ASEAN’s achievements over nearly 60 years, Deputy PM and Minister Son emphasized that ASEAN has transformed into a cohesive community of 10 member states — soon to be 11 — sharing common goals, visions, and values.

Amid profound global changes, countries must continue to join hands to promote the values of dialogue, cooperation, multilateralism, and the rule of law.

Most importantly, it is essential to uphold a peaceful, secure, and stable environment, a prerequisite for sustainable growth and the shared success of the ASEAN Community.

Son affirmed Vietnam’s strong commitment to supporting and making practical contributions to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, while strengthening the grouping's unity, central role, and strategic autonomy.

He added that Vietnam will give high priority to innovation, green transition, digital transformation, and inclusive, sustainable development.

The Vietnamese deputy prime minister also expressed deep gratitude to generations of leaders and officials whose wholehearted dedication has laid the solid groundwork for Vietnam’s participation in and contributions to ASEAN over the past 30 years.

Vietnam promotes leading role in ASEAN

On behalf of ASEAN member states, Ambassador Dato’ Tan Yang Thai of Malaysia – Chair of ASEAN 2025 – extended warm congratulations to Vietnam.

He emphasized that Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam’s historic visit to the ASEAN Secretariat in March 2025 was extremely significant at a time when Vietnam celebrates its 30th anniversary of joining ASEAN.

The ambassador shared that over the past three decades, Vietnam has proven itself to be a proactive, responsible, and constructive member, making important contributions to deepening economic integration, nurturing peace and stability, and promoting a rules-based regional order.

Vietnam has consistently supported ASEAN's centrality, ensuring an open and inclusive common voice.

It has demonstrated leadership, particularly during key points of time such as its ASEAN chairmanship in 2020, maintained regional cooperation momentum, supported regional recovery, bolstered supply chain resilience, and realized strategic agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The ambassador also hailed the Vietnam-initiated ASEAN Future Forum as a vivid demonstration of the country's strategic mindset and vision.