First, Le suggested ASEAN step up dialogue, build trust, and uphold common principles and standards of conduct to resolve disagreements, contributing to fostering a peaceful and stable environment for development.
He called for strengthening defense, security, and legal cooperation, effectively implementing the ASEAN Forum of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (AFLA), and promptly developing the ASEAN Coordinating Council's Rules on Coordination and Information Sharing for Emergency Crisis Response.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister appreciated countries' support for the ASEAN Declaration on Enhancing the Role of Law Enforcement Agencies in Emergency Disaster Response and Relief, which was proposed by Viet Nam.
Second, ASEAN should create dynamic, innovative, and self-reliant shared development, giving priority to the effective implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), attracting high-quality investment, and strengthening participation in regional and global supply chains.
Le emphasized the urgent requirement to ensure economic security, particularly in supply chains, energy, and food. He also affirmed that Viet Nam stands ready to actively contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) connectivity and the Manila Energy Initiative (MEI).
Prime Minister Le proposed the "Space for Development and Resilience" initiative aimed at three objectives: sharing and utilizing space data for development; enhancing capacity to ensure a safe and sustainable space environment; and connecting research, training, businesses, and investment to develop the space economy in the region.
Third, ASEAN should promote its identity to build a sustainably cohesive ASEAN Community, invest in developing high-quality human resources, especially digital skills, facilitate regional labor mobility, and ensure social security.
The Prime Minister welcomed efforts to conclude negotiations on the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), affirming that Viet Nam will coordinate closely with Indonesia, Thailand, and other Member States to soon bring the Center into operation.
Le also proposed that ASEAN take the lead in implementing the United Nations Resolution on the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development," prioritizing the development of cultural and creative industries.
At the plenary session, ASEAN leaders noted that ASEAN has reaped many important outcomes in 2026 thanks to the spirit of solidarity and shared determination.
In the political-security pillar, ASEAN continued to promote its centrality in maintaining regional peace, security, and stability based on upholding the fundamental principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), while strengthening maritime cooperation and responding to transnational challenges.
Regional economic and trade cooperation was promoted with the completion of the upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
To further build upon this positive momentum of cooperation, the regional leaders agreed that ASEAN needs to place special priority on enhancing its capacity to translate policies and goals into concrete, measurable outcomes, especially the objectives of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Given the geopolitical fluctuations, ASEAN leaders stressed the need for ASEAN to steadfastly maintain solidarity and centrality, ensure regional peace and stability, and step up responses to current security challenges such as online scams, human trafficking, and illicit drugs.
Concurrently, ASEAN needs to further enhance self-reliance and proactive resilience against "shocks" by promoting trade facilitation, harnessing existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), strengthening supply chain, energy, food, and water security associated with sustainable agricultural development, and exploring the possibility of signing new FTAs with potential partners.
Regarding its external relations, the regional leaders agreed that ASEAN must maintain a balanced and proactive approach in relations with partners, promoting substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation based on international law and ASEAN centrality.
At the same time, ASEAN needs to leverage cooperation mechanisms to promote a "culture" of consultation, dialogue, trust-building, and preventive diplomacy for peace, stability, and common cooperation in the region.
Concluding the plenary session, ASEAN leaders adopted and noted 87 outcome documents guiding ASEAN cooperation across all three Community pillars, notably covering strategic trade management to ensure secure regional trade, promoting artificial intelligence-driven growth for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), enhancing self-reliance and strengthening regional oil supply security, and advancing the role of ASEAN law enforcement agencies in emergency disaster preparedness and relief./.