Differences and valuable opportunities at the ASEAN Future Forum

The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 - an initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh - will take place in Hanoi early next week. Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet said that there is a big difference between the ASEAN Future Forum and many other international forums such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Future of Asia Conference, the Raisina Dialogue, etc.

"The shortest answer is the word ASEAN in the name of the forum: ASEAN Future Forum. All other forums may have different topics, geographical scopes, and different participants, but there is no forum whose main subject is ASEAN, in line with the desire to promote ASEAN's central role," the Deputy Minister analyzed.

Therefore, there needs to be a forum dedicated to ASEAN, by ASEAN, for ASEAN and for the people of ASEAN. According to the Deputy Minister, this is the biggest difference of the “ASEAN Future Forum”.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: VNA

With its open and inclusive nature, with the participation of governments, academia and businesses, the Forum will create a platform for all stakeholders to share new and innovative ideas. From there, ASEAN leaders can refer to it in the process of building ASEAN's strategy and vision in the coming time, contributing to bringing practical benefits to the people of ASEAN.

The Organizing Committee has received direct registrations from nearly 400 delegates. The confirmation of attendance from many speakers who are leaders at the Government and Ministerial levels of ASEAN member countries.

In particular, there was the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone - the ASEAN Chair in 2024, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Brunei Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will deliver recorded messages to the Forum.

Do Hung Viet.jpg — Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet answers questions in an interview. Photo: Minh Nhat

Many leading regional and international scholars have also confirmed their attendance, including famous former officials such as former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will send a recorded message to the forum.

"We plan to have a summary of the opinions exchanged and statements made at the forum to be sent through ASEAN's official channels, from the senior official channel, to the foreign minister channel, to specialized ministers and to ASEAN senior leaders.

We also expect to have a joint information and recommendation from ASEAN to be sent to the United Nations, demonstrating this as one of the contributions of the ASEAN region to the process of organizing the United Nations Future Summit, scheduled to be held this September," the Deputy Minister said.

With the theme of rapid and sustainable development, focusing on people, this Forum also has the participation of a number of leading enterprises in Vietnam and the region. For rapid and sustainable development, issues related to economic cooperation, investment, and trade with the participation of enterprises will clearly have important meanings.

In addition to the plenary sessions, a session dedicated to businesses will be held with the theme of seizing opportunities for development in the current context of digital transformation. This session will be co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, with the participation of a number of experts in this field as well as many businesses from Vietnam, ASEAN and partner countries.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet commented that this will be a very valuable opportunity for businesses to exchange and share advantages, difficulties as well as opportunities in the context of digital transformation and is also a very good opportunity for businesses to connect and build new networks.

8 544.jpg — ASEAN flag-raising ceremony on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of ASEAN's founding in August 2023. Photo: Pham Hai

Stating the theme of this year's Forum, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized that the issue of rapid, sustainable and people-centered development is a common concern of the world and all ASEAN countries.

This is a basic and essential need of ASEAN in the context of many economic difficulties as well as non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, natural disasters or epidemics, supply chain disruptions, etc.

This forum will focus on discussing how to achieve harmony between development and environmental protection, climate change response, social security assurance and how to always put people at the center of all development decisions of each country as well as of the region.

For Vietnam, the Deputy Minister also said that this will be the largest multilateral event that our country will host in 2024. This initiative by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once again demonstrates Vietnam's proactiveness and positivity, its desire to contribute more positively to regional cooperation and promote Vietnam's leading and core role in cooperation on a global scale.

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