Vietnam Reaffirms Support for Myanmar Through ASEAN Five-Point Consensus
Bangkok, The Gulf Observer : Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung has reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to supporting Myanmar within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), stressing that the Five-Point Consensus remains the bloc’s key mechanism for assisting the country in its pursuit of peace, stability and national reconciliation.
The remarks were made during an informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Myanmar’s Foreign Minister in Bangkok on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, whose country holds the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2026.
Minister Trung underscored that Vietnam consistently regards Myanmar as an integral member of ASEAN and acknowledged the measures undertaken by Myanmar’s authorities in recent months to stabilise the political situation, revive the economy, strengthen governance, combat transnational crimes, including drug trafficking and cybercrime, and improve security along border areas.
He expressed hope that Myanmar would continue advancing efforts towards peace, national reconciliation, public security and improved living conditions for its people.
The Vietnamese foreign minister said that alongside the substantive implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, ASEAN should pursue more practical and concrete initiatives, giving priority to maintaining direct and regular engagement with Myanmar to remain informed of developments and facilitate meaningful progress.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to work closely with the 2026 ASEAN Chair and fellow member states to support Myanmar’s economic recovery, address social challenges, strengthen cooperation against transnational crime and promote bilateral and subregional collaboration aimed at fostering peace, stability and sustainable development in Myanmar and across Southeast Asia.
The Bangkok meeting marked the first in-person gathering attended by several ASEAN foreign ministers with Myanmar’s administration since 2021, representing the highest-level direct engagement between the regional bloc and Myanmar during that period. The meeting reflected ASEAN’s commitment to dialogue and cooperation and followed directives issued by ASEAN leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, to continue supporting Myanmar in line with the principles of the Five-Point Consensus.
During the discussions, Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe briefed his ASEAN counterparts on recent developments in the country, including the implementation of a 100-day plan and measures aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation, stability and continued engagement with relevant stakeholders.
In a constructive exchange of views, ASEAN foreign ministers reviewed the evolving situation in Myanmar and discussed practical measures to strengthen coordination and enhance support through the effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, reaffirming it as the bloc’s principal framework for assisting the country.
The ministers reiterated ASEAN’s commitment to maintaining dialogue with Myanmar’s administration and supporting a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led process toward achieving lasting peace, national reconciliation, security, stability and sustainable development for the benefit of the Myanmar people and the wider region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Lê Hoài Trung also held separate bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Myanmar and the Philippines to discuss issues of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen regional cooperation.
