Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang Attends Joint ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting
On the afternoon of May 7, 2026, the Joint Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers took place in Cebu. The Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting was co-led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang, together with representatives from agencies under the two ministries.
The Joint Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers was chaired by Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, and Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, the 2026 ASEAN Chair. The meeting was attended by ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Economic Ministers, and the ASEAN Secretary-General.
At the meeting, the Foreign and Economic Ministers received reports and exchanged views on the multidimensional impacts of the Middle East conflict on regional energy security, food security, and the economy. Member states expressed deep concern over escalating tensions and agreed that ASEAN should speak with a common voice, uphold international law, and reinforce the region’s central role. The meeting also focused on information sharing, the exchange of experiences, and proposals for strategic solutions to better respond to current and future crises.
The Joint Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers.
The Foreign Ministers prioritized issues including calls for all parties to exercise restraint, immediately cease hostilities, ensure the safety and welfare of citizens, and implement emergency humanitarian relief mechanisms. The ministers also proposed establishing an information-sharing and coordination channel among ASEAN Foreign Ministers to ensure timely crisis responses, while enhancing early warning capabilities, strategic forecasting, and the effective use of ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit to promote multilateral cooperation.
On the economic front, ministers underscored that ensuring energy security and food security remains the top priority. The meeting agreed to accelerate cross-border infrastructure connectivity projects such as the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) to safeguard supply chains from disruption. At the same time, regional food and fertilizer reserve mechanisms will be reactivated and expanded to protect livelihoods and stabilize production costs for businesses.
The Vietnamese delegation made active contributions at the meeting, emphasizing the promotion of economic cooperation and supply chain resilience through stronger intra-ASEAN economic collaboration and deeper engagement with dialogue partners; accelerating energy cooperation frameworks and emergency mechanisms; and expediting the implementation of ASEAN’s key energy cooperation frameworks, including the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), and the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP). Vietnam also stressed the importance of establishing and strengthening coordinated emergency response mechanisms to ensure timely collective action when supply disruptions occur. In addition to diversifying supply sources and building strategic reserves, the delegation highlighted the need to enhance cross-pillar coordination and information sharing, particularly between the Foreign Affairs and Economic pillars, to ensure consistency and effectiveness in policy responses.
Concluding the meeting, the ministers agreed to adopt the draft ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Responding to the Middle East Crisis, reaffirming the unity and resilience of the ASEAN Community and ASEAN’s determination to shift from reactive responses to proactive approaches by enhancing long-term strategies to ensure a peaceful, stable, and sustainable region. The statement is expected to be submitted to the 48th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place on May 8, 2026.
