ASEANEWS HEADLINE | ASEAN, dialogue partners forge new plans, reaffirm commitments to broaden cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane last week attends the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Canada, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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ASEAN and their dialogue partners have agreed on a series of forward-looking plans to deepen cooperation across trade, connectivity, innovation, energy, and crisis response, as foreign ministers of Southeast Asian nations convened separate meetings with dailogue partners on July 10 in Malaysia, which holds ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
At the ASEAN-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the top diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to finalising a new Plan of Action (2026–2030) within this year and accelerating negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement, with a target for completion by 2026.
The Lao delegation attending the meeting was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.’
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Meeting with their Indian counterpart, the ministers adopted a new Strategic Plan (2026–2030) and agreed to extend the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, enhancing physical and economic connectivity.
At the talks with Australia both sides endorsed the Joint Statement on a Shared Future for ASEAN and Australia and gave preliminary approval to the upcoming Joint Statement on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management, expected to be adopted at the 5th ASEAN-Australia Summit in October this year.
With China, the meeting welcomed the nearing conclusion of negotiations for the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area Agreement 3.0. The meeting formally adopted the ASEAN-China Plan of Action (2026–2030) and noted that 2026 will mark the 5th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and China.
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Despite ongoing tariff tensions that have seen many ASEAN members subjected to high levies, the bloc’s foreign ministers and their US counterpart have called for stronger collaboration in public health, innovation, artificial intelligence, trade, investment, human resource development, and other areas.
ASEAN and the United States also agreed in principle to adopt a new Joint Leaders’ Vision Statement at the upcoming 13th ASEAN-US Summit in October.
ASEAN and the Republic of Korea agreed on the adoption of a new implementation plan for 2026–2030. The partnership will continue to focus on economic integration, sustainable energy, and cultural exchange.
Meanwhile, Japan reaffirmed its enduring friendship with ASEAN at the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting by promoting the implementation of outcomes from the 50th Anniversary Summit in Tokyo. The meeting emphasised collaboration on digital trade, fintech, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.
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ASEAN and Russia pledged to draft a new cooperation roadmap (2026–2030), deepening engagement in trade, energy, climate action, education, and health security.
Celebrating five decades of partnership, the ASEAN and New Zealand are preparing for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Commemorative Summit. Ministers agreed in principle to adopt the Draft Leaders’ Vision Statement on ASEAN-New Zealand relations during the October 2025 gathering.
At the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (plus China, Japan and Republic of Korea), the ministers supported Malaysia’s initiative to issue a Leaders’ statement on strengthening financial cooperation, aimed at bolstering regional economic resilience, to be adopted at the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit later this year.
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The foreign ministers of ASEAN and dailogue partners reviewed progress and achievements of their cooperation in recent years.
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(Latest Update July 14, 2025)
