Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on April 23 (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Minister Son said he hoped that the Secretary General would continue to support Vietnam's efforts to turn the forum into a comprehensive and inclusive exchange mechanism for government officials, researchers, stakeholders. scholars and other groups and circles to find solutions to current and strategic issues facing ASEAN.

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's initiative to hold ASEAN Future Forum received support and appreciation from ASEAN countries and partners. He promised to support Vietnam in hosting AFF in the following years.

The ASEAN Secretary General agreed with Minister Son's comments on building a united, unified, prosperous ASEAN Community and promoting ASEAN’s centrality. He reiterated priorities in investment, trade, tourism, sub-region cooperation, narrowing developments gaps, strengthening connectivity, and human resource training for ASEAN countries.

The same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, Darussalam Dato Pehin Erywan Yusof, who is in Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Future Forum.