The vibrant, diverse, and comprehensive activities, together with a series of remarkable outcomes of the working trip, helped further highlight the image of a proactive, active, and reputable Viet Nam with a strong sense of responsibility for peace, security, and common development in the region and the world.
A working trip of special significance
General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit to Thailand, state visit to Singapore, keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and state visit to the Philippines were of special significance, taking place at the most favourable moment in Viet Nam’s relations with the three Southeast Asian countries.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit to Thailand, state visit to Singapore, keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and state visit to the Philippines were of special significance, taking place at the most favourable moment in Viet Nam’s relations with the three Southeast Asian countries.
These were General Secretary and state President To Lam’s first visits to ASEAN countries in his new capacity following the successful election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 tenure. They firmly affirmed Viet Nam’s high regard for advancing relations with the three ASEAN countries. It was also the first visit to the Philippines by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. The trip was even more meaningful as it took place in the context of celebrating half a century of effective and enduring Viet Nam-Thailand and Viet Nam-Philippines cooperation and companionship.
This was the first time a General Secretary and President of Viet Nam delivered a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s leading multilateral security forum. The keynote address always holds a central position in the programme of the Shangri-La Dialogue, as it defines the theme and focus of annual discussion for the entire dialogue. The invitation extended to General Secretary and President To Lam to deliver the keynote address was a testament to Viet Nam’s growing prestige, voice, and position in addressing regional and international issues.
Breakthrough and landmark outcomes
Taking place in a special context and carrying special significance, General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to the three ASEAN countries achieved important and breakthrough results, helping create momentum and elevate long-term cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, fully meeting the expectations of the people of Viet Nam and the countries concerned. The signing of 20 cooperation and business documents across many fields in Thailand, 31 in Singapore, and nearly 20 in the Philippines are impressive figures, reflecting dynamic, substantive, and effective cooperation between Viet Nam and the three countries.
More importantly, the trip qualitatively advanced and elevated cooperation between Viet Nam and these countries. Viet Nam and Thailand resolved to promote their comprehensive strategic partnership, while Viet Nam elevated strategic cooperation with Singapore through the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two ruling parties. On the basis of political trust, traditional friendship, and the need for extensive cooperation, Viet Nam and the Philippines agreed to upgrade their relations to an enhanced strategic partnership, an important milestone that opens up new space for cooperation between the two countries. During the visits, the leaders of all three countries extended to the high-level Vietnamese delegation a respectful, thoughtful, and warm reception imbued with friendship.
At the talks, meetings, contacts, and exchanges between General Secretary and President To Lam and leaders of ASEAN countries, the sides discussed cooperation orientations for the coming time. They agreed to further deepen political trust; continue creating new breakthroughs towards more in-depth, high-quality, and effective economic cooperation; focus on strategic fields; and strengthen business connectivity. In particular, the promotion of science-technology and innovation has become a cooperation priority in the new context. Viet Nam and the countries agreed to continue coordinating effectively and supporting one another at multilateral forums, while consolidating ASEAN’s central role.
Messages of peace and cooperation were conveyed convincingly in General Secretary and President To Lam’s keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue. In the address, he affirmed that Viet Nam understands the value of peace through its own history, and the value of development through its own journey of Doi Moi and integration.
From aspirations for peace and stability, Viet Nam is determined to work with other countries to promote substantive action, proactively and actively contributing to regional peace as a means to safeguard Viet Nam’s own long-term interests. General Secretary and President To Lam made clear that peace, stability, and development are the common denominator of all countries and peoples. However, they are meaningful only when translated into concrete action: exercising restraint in the face of disagreements, engaging in dialogue when differences grow, cooperating when challenges transcend borders, and building risk-reduction mechanisms that can function in practice. Through the address, the world saw in Viet Nam the image of a country steadfastly pursuing peace, cooperation, and development, capable of turning differences into cooperation and building trust among partners.
Making a strong impression on international friends
General Secretary and President To Lam’s visits to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines attracted special attention and received very positive responses from experts, scholars, and regional and international media.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s visits to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines attracted special attention and received very positive responses from experts, scholars, and regional and international media. In interviews with international media and the Viet Nam News Agency, many experts shared the view that the first time Viet Nam’s top party and state leader assumed the role of keynote speaker at the region’s leading security forum, with an address that created wide resonance, together with General Secretary and President To Lam’s visits to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, were vivid evidence of Viet Nam’s rising position on the international stage.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s address at the Shangri-La Dialogue demonstrated a strategic vision of Viet Nam’s role in today’s turbulent world. Dr Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, stressed that the message delivered in General Secretary and President To Lam’s address established a nuanced and timely diplomatic framework for modern multilateral relations, rather than stopping at ceremonial statements. By shifting the focus from responding to crises to proactively reducing risks, Viet Nam affirmed itself as a responsible and mature “architect” in building regional peace.
Researcher Nguyen Khac Giang at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore told Japan’s Nikkei that through his address, General Secretary and President To Lam presented Viet Nam as a stabilising factor and an emerging middle power ready to play a more active role in shaping the regional security architecture.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s working trip conveyed a message of a Viet Nam that always attaches importance to relations with neighbouring and ASEAN countries as well as works with ASEAN countries to consolidate solidarity and strengthen the central role of the association. In an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency, strategic security analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat of the University of Malaya in Malaysia said General Secretary and President To Lam’s visits to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines contributed to promoting peace, stability, and development in ASEAN in many aspects. The working trip helped strengthen political trust and promote cooperation among ASEAN member states, thereby consolidating ASEAN solidarity and centrality in regional affairs.
The exchanges between General Secretary and President To Lam and the leaders of the three countries continued to affirm Viet Nam’s support for the principles of international law, respect for sovereignty, the settlement of differences by peaceful means, and the maintenance of a stable and favourable environment to development.
The comprehensive outcomes achieved during the working trip by General Secretary and President To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation carry long-term strategic significance for the country’s future development and position as well as Viet Nam’s relations with important partners in ASEAN.
