Vietnamese President Emphasises ASEAN Centrality at Shangri-La Dialogue 2026

Singapore (ANTARA) - Vietnamese President To Lam emphasised the importance of ASEAN’s centrality in maintaining regional peace, stability, and development on Friday, 29 May, while calling for unity, dialogue, and strategic autonomy amid rising geopolitical competition. In his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, Lam stated that the Asia-Pacific region shares common interests in achieving peace, connectivity, and development, and has strong experience in multilayered cooperation. ‘ASEAN serves as the framework for cooperation, dialogue, and balance in this region,’ Lam stressed. The bloc is motivated and determined to ensure that competition does not turn into confrontation, connectivity routes do not become dividing lines, and one nation’s security does not undermine another’s, the Vietnamese leader said. ASEAN’s centrality cannot be taken for granted and will not sustain itself, Lam added, stressing that it can only be maintained through unity, strategic autonomy, and the ability to set a common agenda. He added that Southeast Asia welcomes transparent, responsible interactions that respect international law, support ASEAN’s centrality, and contribute to de-escalating tensions.