Three key priorities at the 48th ASEAN Summit

The 48th ASEAN Summit is one of the two annual meetings of ASEAN leaders in 2026. At the invitation of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr of the Philippines, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will lead the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Summit.

The summit takes place amid a global and regional landscape that continues to shift rapidly, becoming increasingly complex and difficult to predict. Intensifying geopolitical competition and emerging hotspots particularly the escalating tensions in the Middle East, are heightening instability and generating wide-ranging, direct impacts on the global economy.

Despite these challenges, ASEAN remains committed to advancing the Community-building process based on the achievements of the 2015-2025 period, while also beginning the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its strategic plans. The goal is to build a resilient, dynamic, innovative, and people-centered ASEAN. The bloc continues to uphold its unity and centrality, while also facing growing pressures from both internal and external factors.

'Navigating Our Future, Together'

As ASEAN Chair in 2026 under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the Philippines has proposed that the Summit focus on three main areas: ensuring energy and food security, and protecting ASEAN citizens.

The Summit will also reaffirm strategic priorities such as strengthening intra-regional connectivity, enhancing resilience and strategic autonomy, and reinforcing ASEAN centrality, thereby sustaining momentum toward the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

During the plenary session, discussions will focus on the ASEAN Community-building process, particularly energy security, food security, and citizen support. The retreat session will address regional and international issues of common concern.

Regional cooperation for peace and security

The Philippines has also proposed key regional cooperation directions, including strengthening the foundations of peace and security, expanding prosperity corridors, and promoting people empowerment.

In response to developments in the Middle East, the Philippines and ASEAN have taken early and flexible measures. ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a Joint Statement on March 4, 2026, and held two special virtual meetings on March 13 and April 13, 2026, to assess the region's political, security, and economic impacts and coordinate responses.

The 32nd Special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (March 13, 2026) issued a statement on strengthening economic resilience amid global volatility. The Special Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community Council on April 30, 2026, adopted a statement on the economic implications of the Middle East situation, while the Special ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting on April 27, 2026, also released a relevant statement. These developments reflect ASEAN’s increasingly proactive, flexible, and effective approach.

The 48th ASEAN Summit is expected to adopt and note more than 20 documents.

Viet Nam officially became a member of ASEAN on July 28, 1995. Since then, ASEAN has remained one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy. Viet Nam has actively, proactively, and responsibly engaged across all pillars of cooperation, making important contributions to the ASEAN Community-building process, thereby helping to maintain peace, stability, and cooperation in the region, and earning high appreciation from member states and partners.