True to the theme “Building a united, inclusive and resilient ASEAN in a changing world”, AFF 2025 went through two days of lively discussions, presenting many practical recommendations and initiatives revolving around solidarity, centrality and resilience. From there, it contributed to answering the question of how ASEAN should adapt and innovate in the face of “headwinds”, together moving steadily towards the future.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates at the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 High-Level Plenary Session, February 26. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Attending and directing both days of the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly expressed his joy when the Forum, which was realized from the initiative one year ago, continued to "go live", with participation on a larger scale, at a higher level and more widespread.
This year's forum was attended by the President of Timor-Leste; Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chair of ASEAN 2025; Prime Minister of New Zealand; Secretary General of ASEAN; along with a video message from the Prime Minister of Thailand, President of the European Commission and Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations; over 10 Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of countries attending in person or sending video messages, 160 diplomatic delegates and 230 domestic delegates. These are truly "speaking numbers", demonstrating the interest and response of ASEAN member countries as well as international friends to AFF 2025.
In challenge there is opportunity to shine.
An atmosphere of concern about the world situation has dominated multilateral forums in recent times, and AFF 2025 is no exception. At the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and many regional and world leaders emphasized the complexity of the global situation.
“The world is facing many global, national, comprehensive issues that are evolving faster, more complex, and more unpredictable,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out at the opening session of AFF 2025.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that the world is at a geopolitical “inflection point” with many consequences, while UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized: “There is no going back to the old path, the solutions of the past are no longer enough to meet current problems.”
However, despite the challenges, ASEAN has remained steadfast in its path, being described by many leaders and experts as a “beacon” of hope and peace. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon assessed Southeast Asia as one of the most impressive and dynamic regions in the world. Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta expressed his admiration for ASEAN’s efforts to rise, where countries always support each other, leaving no one behind.
| “We are committed to being a proactive, active and responsible member in building a united, inclusive and resilient ASEAN Community, together realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 for the benefit of all people in the region, together with member countries, partners and international friends to continue writing new proud pages in ASEAN's development journey”. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh |
In a turbulent context, ASEAN has the opportunity to shine in its own way. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that “difficult problems” also open up opportunities to affirm its position. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that ASEAN can spread its success story.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn all emphasized that the key to ASEAN's breakthrough is the spirit of solidarity, inclusiveness and self-reliance. "If solidarity is ASEAN's greatest strength, then resilience is a call to action to respond to global uncertainties," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized.
Three strategic priorities, three action breakthroughs
“Opportunities are like the wind, they wait for no man” – if ASEAN does not take the initiative to seize them, the opportunity may slip away. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that ASEAN needs breakthrough thinking, sharp strategies, and decisive actions.
On the threshold of the new era, the Prime Minister proposed three strategic priorities. First, strengthening ASEAN’s strategic autonomy through strengthening ASEAN’s solidarity and centrality. Second, building an economically resilient ASEAN through innovating traditional growth drivers while promoting new growth drivers, especially in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Third, upholding ASEAN’s values and identity such as the spirit of harmony, unity in diversity, and respect for differences.
The three breakthrough actions include: First, building a more flexible, effective, and responsible decision-making mechanism, ensuring both the principle of consensus and specific mechanisms for strategic initiatives to create breakthroughs. Second, promoting public-private cooperation to mobilize all resources for regional development, especially key projects; developing a smart and safe digital economic environment to serve trade and investment in ASEAN. Third, enhancing connectivity within ASEAN, especially in terms of infrastructure connectivity, people-to-people exchanges, and institutional harmonization for transparency.
| “In the past two days, we had a very successful forum. In particular, compared to 2024, it can be said that it was a much more resounding success. I think this year's forum has had remarkable development in both quantity and quality”. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam Do Hung Viet |
At AFF 2025, regional leaders and experts affirmed that ASEAN's central role is the key to helping the region contribute more to world peace and stability. According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, with its central role, ASEAN must not only participate but also contribute to leading the "game" so that the final destination is peace and happiness for the people. ASEAN has every basis to realize this desire based on the foundation of partnerships with 25 countries in the world, including six Comprehensive Strategic Partners, all of which are major countries.
Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior researcher at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Thailand, suggested that ASEAN export its central role to the world, turning the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) into a global model. ASEAN can set the rules of the game, build a strong, flexible community, and be ready to face challenges.
Many representatives from ASEAN partners, such as Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Indian Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, have affirmed that ASEAN is becoming a “locomotive” of cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world, with a neutral identity and a bridging role between countries, including those with disagreements.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the ASEAN Future Forum 2025. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The name inspires
The AFF 2025 agenda may not be measured by mechanical time, many stories and issues of ASEAN have been analyzed and dissected enthusiastically. However, somewhere, standing out among the exchanges is the name of Vietnam, mentioned, emphasized with respect and conveyed with many expectations.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was moved to share his “fate” with Vietnam and his personal feelings for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. According to the Malaysian leader, Vietnam is an admirable success story of development, a testament to the journey of rising from poverty.
Meanwhile, President Jose Ramos Horta affirmed that Vietnam's journey is a source of inspiration for Timor-Leste, and appreciated all of Vietnam's support for his country during its development stages.
In particular, leaders, experts and scholars highly appreciated the strong influence of AFF, although it is only the “second season”. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said that the Forum “came at the right time and will be a useful catalyst for dialogue on the future of ASEAN”; while Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith assessed that AFF contributed to providing practical recommendations and valuable ideas to support the effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Speaking to TG&VN reporters on the sidelines of AFF 2025, former Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh said that both Forums had high-level participation from the ASEAN Chair country, especially the second time, which also brought together many high-level leaders from many countries. In discussions with colleagues and friends during the two-day event, he said that delegates highly appreciated Vietnam's initiative and affirmed Vietnam's strong position in the region - an important factor attracting them to attend AFF.
The successful AFF 2025 left a strong impression on the participants. “I am confident that the Forum will truly become a leading incubator of innovative ideas for the future of the region. Let us leave today’s Forum with a stronger determination to build a united, inclusive and strong ASEAN – not only for the present, but also for future generations,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son concluded in the closing session amid continuous applause throughout the hall.
ASEAN Future Forum… see you again!
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