Vietnam Strengthens Strategic Partnerships with Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia at ASEAN Summit
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held bilateral meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on May 8, 2026, during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines. The discussions focused on strengthening political trust, expanding economic cooperation, and advancing strategic partnerships amid growing regional and global uncertainties.
Energy security and economic integration dominated discussions with Singapore. Both leaders emphasized accelerating clean energy connectivity projects and implementing the Vietnam–Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Programme for 2025–2030. Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s support for Vietnam’s economic reforms and development priorities. The two sides also committed to maintaining high-level exchanges and strengthening coordination within regional and international multilateral institutions.
Trade facilitation and investment cooperation featured prominently in talks with Thailand. The two Prime Ministers agreed to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through stronger political dialogue, institutional cooperation, and reciprocal investment. Prime Minister Hung encouraged Thailand to remove technical trade barriers and improve market access for Vietnamese products, while his Thai counterpart expressed support for expanding Vietnamese business activities in Thailand.
Cooperation with Indonesia centered on economic connectivity, energy security, and emerging industries. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in March 2025. They agreed to strengthen collaboration in agriculture, trade, investment, digital transformation, and green development. Particular emphasis was placed on expanding bilateral trade to at least USD 18 billion while promoting balanced market access and cooperation in energy, including oil and gas exploration and production.
Beyond bilateral economic priorities, the meetings demonstrated Vietnam’s continued commitment to ASEAN solidarity, multilateralism, and regional stability. The discussions highlighted opportunities to translate existing strategic partnerships into practical cooperation, particularly in energy diversification, sustainable economic development, and emerging technologies.
Overall, these diplomatic engagements reinforced Vietnam’s efforts to deepen regional partnerships and strengthen economic resilience, while supporting ASEAN centrality and collective responses to evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.
