The first Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026 (SOM1) officially opened in Hanoi on March 11.

Vietnam commits to promoting open and constructive dialogue

The opening session was attended by senior officials and experts from CPTPP member economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam, along with online participation from representatives of Mexico.

The event marks an important starting point for CPTPP cooperation activities in 2026 and opens a series of discussions aimed at further promoting the effective implementation of the agreement amid evolving regional and global economic conditions.

At the opening ceremony, Le Trieu Dung, Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said that in its role as CPTPP Chair in 2026, Vietnam aims to contribute actively to maintaining the spirit of cooperation, dialogue and consensus among members. 

With goodwill, openness and responsibility, Vietnam is committed to listening carefully and considering fully the views and proposals of all CPTPP members on every item on the agenda, he noted.

“We clearly understand that the role of the Chair is not only to preside over meetings but also to create an open and constructive dialogue environment, promote consensus and ensure that all opinions are heard and respected,” Le Trieu Dung emphasized.

According to him, as the international economic landscape is undergoing significant changes, maintaining an effective cooperation space where members can share views and seek common solutions has become even more important.

The Vietnamese representative also expressed his hope to continue receiving strong support and close cooperation from all members throughout Vietnam’s CPTPP chairmanship in 2026. Active participation, a constructive spirit and flexibility from delegations will play an important role in effectively addressing outstanding issues while shaping new directions for cooperation in line with the evolving regional context.

Such efforts, Le Trieu Dung said, will not only help strengthen the effective implementation of the agreement but also contribute to the shared goal of bringing tangible benefits to businesses and people in CPTPP member economies.

Many key issues on the agenda

According to the working agenda, SOM1 will focus on a number of important issues related to the implementation and development of the CPTPP.

One key priority is the updating and upgrading of the agreement to ensure that the CPTPP continues to maintain its role as a high-standard next-generation free trade agreement. In addition, members will review the accession process of several economies that have applied to join, including Costa Rica, Uruguay and several other partners.

Delegates will also exchange views on mechanisms for trade and investment dialogue between CPTPP members and external partners, as well as measures to strengthen implementation capacity and further promote the effective enforcement of the agreement in the coming period.

Alongside the official agenda, the organizing committee has also arranged several side activities to create opportunities for delegations to enhance mutual understanding, while introducing international participants to Vietnam’s people, culture and heritage.

Le Trieu Dung expressed hope that during their stay in Hanoi, international delegates will have the opportunity to explore the thousand-year-old capital and experience the friendliness and hospitality of the Vietnamese people.

At the opening session, the agenda for CPTPP meetings throughout 2026 was also distributed to member delegations. For CPTPP committees and working groups under various chapters of the agreement that are scheduled to convene in March and April, Vietnam’s focal points responsible for each chapter will continue to consult with CPTPP experts via email to agree on arrangements and suitable timelines for online meetings.

With that spirit of cooperation, Le Trieu Dung invited members to share comments and feedback on the draft schedule of CPTPP meetings in 2026.

Through discussions within the framework of SOM1, CPTPP members are expected to further promote the effective implementation of the agreement, strengthen regional economic cooperation and reinforce the role of the CPTPP in the regional and global trade architecture.

Prior to the opening session, the organizers held a Hanoi cultural heritage performance program to introduce and promote the distinctive cultural values of the thousand-year-old capital to international senior officials.

In an interview with the Newspaper of Industry and Trade on the sidelines of the event, Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the MoIT, said the integration of cultural activities into a major economic diplomacy event such as SOM1 stems from the overall orientation during Vietnam’s CPTPP chairmanship in 2026.

According to him, during its chairmanship year, Vietnam plans to organize a number of senior officials’ meetings and one ministerial meeting in different locations, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Ha Long. Each venue is expected to showcase distinctive cultural features of the respective regions to international partners.

“We want international friends to see that Vietnam’s integration process always goes hand in hand with preserving and promoting national identity. Integration is not only about business or economics but also about connecting tradition with modernity,” Ngo Chung Khanh said.

As international trade becomes increasingly intertwined with the development of economies, dialogues such as SOM1 therefore carry not only technical significance but also contribute to building a foundation for long-term cooperation among member economies.

The first Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026 (SOM1) is being held in Hanoi from March 10 to 13, 2026. The opening session on March 11 marks the beginning of a series of activities during Vietnam’s year as CPTPP Chair.