Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Culture and people-to-people diplomacy should be recognised as strategic resources for building the ASEAN Community, fostering trust, consensus and a social foundation for sustainable cooperation, said Ho Xuan Lam, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO).
He made the remarks at an international scientific seminar on culture and people-to-people diplomacy in ASEAN Community building with a vision to 2045, held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23.
The event brought together representatives from the Consulates General of ASEAN member countries in Ho Chi Minh City, researchers and students.
Culture goes beyond preserving heritage and organising exchanges to promoting dialogue, connecting diverse communities and reducing prejudice. Meanwhile, people-to-people diplomacy complements official diplomatic efforts by building a strong social foundation for friendship and cooperation, Lam said, describing it as a form of soft power that deserves greater recognition.
“While the vision may be established at summits, the vitality of the ASEAN Community must be built by ASEAN’s own people,” he said.
Lam said the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 in Kuala Lumpur in 2025 marked a shift towards building a resilient, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN that embraces diversity and can seize opportunities amid global uncertainty.
However, government-level commitments must translate into tangible benefits in people’s daily lives, he said, stressing that ASEAN’s strength lies not only in its economic scale, international standing and cooperation agreements, but also in trust, mutual understanding and bonds among people across member states.
Dr. Phan Thanh Dinh, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), said ASEAN must strengthen its adaptability and pursue sustainable development while bringing together communities with diverse histories, cultures, languages and religions without compromising their identities.
Culture lays the groundwork for understanding, while people-to-people diplomacy transforms it into connections, trust and cooperation, he said.
The seminar explored how cultural diversity could support ASEAN community-building, how people-to-people diplomacy could strengthen trust and connect communities, and how young people could participate more actively in regional exchange and cooperation networks.
Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at USSH under Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City and President of the Vietnam- ASEAN Friendship Association HCMC, highlighted the importance of connectivity in regional development.
Alongside the three strategic plans corresponding to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045’s pillars, ASEAN has a separate strategic plan on connectivity (ASEAN Connectivity), she noted. Connectivity should extend beyond transport, trade and cooperation mechanisms to include mutual understanding and bonds among people, ensuring everyone feels able to contribute to the region’s shared future.
“Culture helps us recognise one another. People-to-people diplomacy brings us closer, while connections between people help strengthen the resilience of the ASEAN Community,” she said.
Querobine D. Laccay, Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City, and Firdauz Othman, Consul General of Malaysia, outlined key aspects of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the priorities of their countries, which held the bloc’s rotating chairmanship in 2025 and 2026, respectively. They highlighted efforts to build a resilient, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN.
Other participants, including researchers, overseas Vietnamese representatives and businesspeople, stressed that regional integration depends not only on institutions but also on mutual understanding, trust and people-to-people connections./.
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☕ Afternoon briefing on October 23
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Special lawmaking mechanisms must not become the norm: NA President
National Assembly (NA) President Tran Thanh Man has stressed that special and emergency lawmaking mechanisms must remain exceptional, warning against allowing them to undermine the legal system’s discipline and stability.
Polish PM’s Vietnam visit to strengthen bilateral ties: Ambassador
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam would help identify areas with the greatest potential for cooperation, including education, trade, culture, people-to-people exchanges and coordination at international forums.
Lawmakers discuss four bills on finance, budget, investment
Presenting the Government’s submission on the draft consolidated Law on the State Budget, Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan said the draft law is based on the structure and layout of the 2025 Law on the State Budget.
Lawmakers seek to remove legal bottlenecks
Comprising four chapters and 32 articles, the draft revised laws on Compulsory Purchase and Requisition of Property sets out procedures for compulsory purchases and requisitions, the powers and responsibilities of State agencies, and the rights and obligations of property owners
Polish PM’s upcoming visit to Vietnam to boost bilateral ties
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Hai said the trip reflects the Polish Government’s high regard for Vietnam as one of Poland’s priority partners in the Indo-Pacific and an important partner in ASEAN.
Uruguayan parliament highlights Vietnam’s role, bilateral cooperation prospects
In his opening remarks, Víctor Aldaya, chairman of the friendship group, said the meeting takes place as the Uruguayan Government is seeking to strengthen political, trade and cultural relations with Vietnam.
Vietnam, EU sign Letter of Intent on Education and Training
This is the first time a Letter of Intent has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the European Commission to implement cooperation comprehensively, from qualification recognition in education and training to skills development in the new period.
Austria-Vietnam Association marks 50 years of fostering friendship
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang highlighted the association’s longstanding contributions to bilateral friendship. He praised its solidarity with the Vietnamese people since its establishment in 1976, highlighting its efforts to help Vietnam overcome the blockade and embargo, promote humanitarian projects, support post-war recovery, and assist Agent Orange victims and orphans in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
16th NA moves to streamline legal documents
Lawmakers then will hold group discussions on the draft law on compulsory purchase and requisition of property, the draft law on legal normative documents and the implementation report.
☀️ Morning digest on October 23
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Top leader visits Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium
The leader stressed that Vietnam-Belgium relations had been built and nurtured over the years on the foundations of friendship, trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Flanders and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are important partners in this relationship, particularly in maritime affairs, seaports and logistics.
Top leader holds talks with European Council President
Vietnam regards the EU as one of its top-priority partners, with substantial shared interests and long-term cooperation potential. It wishes to translate commitments into concrete outcomes and practical cooperation projects that will support development and improve the lives of people on both sides, said top leader To Lam.
Joint press release on top Vietnamese leader's official visit to European Union
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the partnership, including through Global Gateway investments and the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Vietnam regards European Union as one of its priority partners: Top leader
On regional and international issues, both leaders agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums, uphold multilateralism and international law, and promote free, smooth and unhindered trade. They also underscored the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Vietnam, Belgium seek to deepen bilateral cooperation
Trung highlighted the positive development of Vietnam-Belgium relations over the past more than five decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, particularly following the state visit to Vietnam by the Belgian King and Queen in April 2025. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to friendship and cooperation with Belgium, an important partner in Europe.
Top Vietnamese leader attends high-level dialogue with leading European, Belgian business executives
Cooperation should go beyond expanding trade and investment to improving its quality, increasing technological content, raising development standards and competitiveness, and strengthening the position of businesses from both sides in global value chains, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam said.
☕ Afternoon briefing on October 22
A meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and EC Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the UK Royal Navy’s patrol vessel HMS Spey visiting Ho Chi Minh City, and shrimp exports reaching 3.7 billion USD in the first nine months are among news highlights on October 22.
UK Royal Navy’s patrol vessel pays second visit to Ho Chi Minh City
It is the ship’s first call at the city since 2023. Officers and crew will take part in cultural exchanges with local schools and a charity, and in professional exchanges with the Vietnam People’s Navy.
Vietnam–Denmark ties gain fresh momentum with comprehensive strategic partnership
The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, energy transition, the green economy, the marine economy, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.