Việt Nam assumes ASEAN leadership in Copenhagen amid expansion and challenges
Việt Nam has taken over the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Copenhagen (ACC) for a one-year term beginning in May 2026. The handover ceremony took place at the Thai Embassy, where Ambassador Nguyễn Lê Thanh formally received the role from his Thai counterpart. The transition comes as ASEAN welcomes Denmark as a new Sectoral Dialogue Partner and Timor-Leste as its latest member state. The ceremony saw participation from ASEAN ambassadors and officials, who commended Việt Nam’s proposed action plan. Key priorities include boosting ASEAN’s global profile and deepening regional connectivity. Delegates also reflected on the bloc’s progress and the long-term goals outlined in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Ambassador Thanh acknowledged four pressing challenges facing ASEAN: growing strategic competition, external economic disruptions, complex technological shifts, and the need to strengthen institutional effectiveness. Despite these hurdles, he emphasised that the bloc’s resilience stems from converting obstacles into opportunities for reform and expansion. Earlier, ASEAN embassies in Denmark—including those of Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Việt Nam—co-hosted a seminar titled *ASEAN-Denmark: Partnership for the Future*. The event underscored the potential for collaboration in green transition, digital innovation, and sustainable development. Thanh reiterated ASEAN’s role as a cornerstone for peace, stability, and collective growth in the region.
Việt Nam’s chairmanship will guide ASEAN through a period of both expansion and evolving challenges. The bloc’s focus remains on reinforcing partnerships, adapting to economic and technological changes, and maintaining its position as a key regional cooperation framework. The upcoming term will test ASEAN’s ability to turn strategic plans into tangible progress.
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