The Forum brings together over 500 delegates, including senior leaders from ASEAN countries and partners, leading international experts and scholars, and representatives from international organizations and the business community.

This is the second time the ASEAN Future Forum has been held in Vietnam, following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s initiative, which was raised at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in September 2023. Last year, the discussions were documented in the Joint Statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, becoming an integral part of the ASEAN Dialogue.

Connecting ideas for a sustainable future of ASEAN

The theme of this year’s Forum “Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN Amidst Global Transformations” reflects ASEAN's core values. The concept of "resilience" has become increasingly prominent in ASEAN's cooperation themes and strategies, particularly in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The concept of "inclusiveness," which is enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, has also expanded significantly in recent years. This new approach emphasizes an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional structure, with ASEAN at its center. It promotes harmonious cooperation within ASEAN-led mechanisms, with the constructive and responsible participation and contribution of all partners.

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn (Photo: VNA)

Foreign leaders have appreciated Vietnam’s initiative and hosting of AFF as part of ASEAN’s dialogue mechanism to receive new ideas and policy recommendations. ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said, "Vietnam shares the vision of ASEAN's development roadmap. Therefore, the ASEAN Future Forum is suitable for what ASEAN is pursuing in building a Community Vision 2045. The forum is a dialogue channel, providing us with creative thoughts, helping ASEAN to identify challenges and future journey." 

In addition to discussing major trends affecting ASEAN and its role in the current context, the ongoing forum will analyze pressing issues such as managing emerging technologies and the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on ASEAN's future self-reliance.

Trinh Minh Manh, Acting Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said, "There are many issues emerging from technology development such as applicability, value of technology, and technology management to avoid risks. The appearance of DeepSeek and ChatGPT says a lot about the current technology competition. The session on technology is extremely important, responding to Vietnam’s Resolution 57 on developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.”

Vietnam continues to contribute to dialogue on regional future

This year’s Forum takes place at a significant time, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN in 1995. Since then, Vietnam has integrated deeply into the world and contributed responsibly to international affairs. This year the ASEAN Community celebrates its 10th founding anniversary and will adopt the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

At the ASEAN Future Forum, which complements bloc’s official mechanisms and summits, governments can share their strategic policies with the public, listen to stakeholders, identify regional challenges and vulnerabilities, and work toward appropriate solutions.

The Forum reaffirms Vietnam’s pioneering role in promoting regional cooperation and development and provides a multi-dimensional dialogue platform for presenting valuable ideas for the sustainable development of ASEAN.