Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN and Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) task force, on August 11 presided over a symposium and photo exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the IAI, an important milestone in the journey to narrow development gaps across the region.

ASEAN plays a role as a "beacon of peace" and a model regional organisation for dialogue, cooperation, and the peaceful settlement of differences, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stated at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat within the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) in Malaysia on July 9.

Promoting and ensuring human rights involve multiple sectors and pillars, requiring a comprehensive approach and enhanced coordination between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and specialised agencies to optimise resources for human rights cooperation, a Vietnamese official has said.