(VOVWORLD) -ASEAN, whose centrality has been acknowledged by its major partners, should enhance its strategic autonomy in an increasingly volatile world, according to a high-level discussion at the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) on Wednesday in Hanoi.
 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking at the Forum. Photo: VOV |
In his keynote speech, Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of ASEAN 2025, emphasized that ASEAN’s centrality has been a prominent topic in recent years, adding this is a privilege that all member countries must strive to protect, because ASEAN is now living relatively well in peace in an increasingly unstable world.
Mentioning the challenges that ASEAN faces in the future, such as global geopolitical tensions, competition for influence between regional powers, and risks of world trade, the Malaysian Prime Minister called on ASEAN countries to increase intra-regional connectivity, build strategic autonomy and maintain its influence.
“While raising the regional floor on economic development is vital, we must also strive to elevate developmental ceiling of our region, building a robust and resilient supply chain ecosystem within the region is imperative to withstand looming challenges. Markets in developed nations are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, and ASEAN must adapt to such strength to maintain its relevance in global trade."
According to the Malaysian Prime Minister, Vietnam's success story in recent years plus its diplomacy of coordinating relations with major powers, can make important contributions to building the bloc's strategic autonomy.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that any country or association must put the issue of self-reliance and strategic autonomy first. Photo: VOV |
Echoing Anwar Ibrahim's remarks, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that to maintain self-reliance and strategic autonomy, countries and associations need to maintain five elements, including a balanced, friendly, rules-based foreign policy; economic prowess; strong national defense and security; an inclusive social security policy; and cultural identity.
Taking lessons from Vietnam's struggle for independence, Prime Minister Chinh said culture is an important internal strength, which is also the strength of ASEAN, a region of diversity. “Culture and identity matter. To be self-reliant, in addition to foreign affairs, economics, and defense, cultural identity is needed to promote internal strength. Culture is an endogenous force. Culture and identity are to leverage the resources of a nation."
Addressing the high-level discussion, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted the ASEAN’s role of in the Indo-Pacific, saying ASEAN's growth and strategic autonomy is what New Zealand supports, as traditional mechanisms in international relations are evolving profoundly and unpredictably.