On the afternoon of April 23, the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) closed after a working day with lively and effective discussion sessions.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son delivers a closing speech at the ASEAN Future Forum 2024. Photo: An Dang/VNA
In his closing remarks, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his hope that the Forum would generate new determination. According to the Minister, the in-depth discussions and sharing at the Forum provided valuable information for regional countries and stakeholders to reflect on, reaffirming the importance of joint efforts in shaping a brighter future for the ASEAN community.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted three strategic trends shaping ASEAN’s future: intensifying competition and division among major powers; the rapid development of new disruptive technologies; and the urgency for sustainable and inclusive development. These strategic trends have posed unprecedented challenges and opportunities for ASEAN.
Minister Bui Thanh Son said that countries in the region need to reflect on the lessons discussed at the Forum to take advantage of these lessons in promoting rapid and sustainable development, while still ensuring comprehensive security for ASEAN people.
According to the Minister, technology will change the way we work and live every day, requiring essential economic infrastructure and promoting digital transformation. Countries in the region must make more efforts to invest in people, especially providing digital skills for young people.
The Minister expressed optimism about the development direction of ASEAN as the discussion sessions at the Forum attracted many policy makers and business sectors to discuss and propose feasible solutions, including very unique solutions to adapt and solve the problems the region is facing. Delegates at the Forum emphasized the central role of ASEAN, continuing to play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“Peace is the backbone of all efforts and peace is ASEAN’s greatest achievement in the context of unpredictable and complex events in the region. We need to make every effort to protect peace. The challenges we are facing are certainly many and interconnected, from geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties to the urgent need for sustainable development and climate change response. However, by being proactive and creative in charting its own path, ASEAN can manage complex issues, contributing to building a global community where all countries, regardless of their size and scale, are respected, cooperate equally and work together to address common challenges,” the Minister emphasized.
The Minister expressed hope that the insightful policy recommendations emerging from the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 will serve as a clarion call to action as countries in the region look to the future and intensify efforts to build an inclusive and sustainable environment for all people. This will require strong leadership, innovative thinking and a firm commitment to cooperation among stakeholders, from government, business, to the international community.
On this occasion, Minister Bui Thanh Son called on countries in the region to unite with the determination to make the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 a reality, building a better tomorrow for the people and for future generations. “The road ahead may have many challenges, but with the strength and collective intelligence of the ASEAN Community, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome,” Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized.
Delegates at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024. Photo: An Dang/VNA
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 with the theme: "Building a fast-growing, sustainable, people-centered ASEAN Community" is an important initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September 2023. This is a new idea of Vietnam with the desire to create a common forum for ASEAN member countries as well as ASEAN's partners and friends, and ASEAN people to contribute to promoting and shaping the development path for the future of ASEAN.
The biggest difference between the ASEAN Future Forum and other forums is that it is a forum dedicated to ASEAN, by ASEAN, for ASEAN and for the people of ASEAN.
The Forum was attended by about 500 delegates representing the Government, diplomatic corps, scholars, business community, delegates from ASEAN, partners and international organizations. The Forum included an Opening Session; the First Plenary Session with the theme “ASEAN Fast Development for a Sustainable Future”; two working lunch sessions with a Dialogue with ASEAN Enterprises and Partners on “A Cohesive, Resilient and Sustainable ASEAN Business Community: Seizing Opportunities in the Digital Age” and the theme “Redefining ASEAN Centrality”; the Second Plenary Session on “Ensuring Comprehensive Security for a People-Centered ASEAN Community” and the Closing Session of the Forum.
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