The fact that Vietnam proposed the initiative and organised the event for the first time, with the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and ASEAN leaders, strongly demonstrates the message of Vietnam's proactive participation to actively and responsibly contribute together with member countries in strengthening the central role and promoting the responsibility and voice of the association for peace, stability, and development.
After nearly 60 years of development, in addition to recording important achievements, ASEAN’s central role is being challenged by the rapid and complicated changes in the regional and international situation, along with internal problems of the association and its member countries.
In that context, the exchange and future orientation of ASEAN and the cooperation process to ensure peace and security and promote development in the region are of important significance.
This is also consistent with the general trend in the region and the world in which multilateral forums and leading international organisations are increasingly concerned about the future development of each region and the world.
In 2024, the United Nations plans to organise a Summit of the Future with the goal of promoting solidarity and cooperation to respond to common challenges of the international community. After nearly 40 years of renewal, Vietnam's combined strength, position, prestige, and potential have been continuously enhanced.
After nearly 30 years of participating in ASEAN, Vietnam has affirmed its role as a proactive and positive member, making many important contributions to the development and growth of the ASEAN Community, with successful terms as ASEAN Chair along with many positive results regarding the association's cooperation aspects, as well as in the relationship between ASEAN and its partners.
Vietnam and its member countries have maintained and promoted the balanced and harmonious approach of ASEAN in regional and international issues, while strengthening the central role and promoting the responsibility and voice of the association.
In the context that the association is preparing to enter a new stage of development, the initiative to organise the ASEAN Future Forum was announced by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the occasion of attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 2023.
The ASEAN Future Forum is a new initiative in terms of nature, content, and scope, proactively promoted by Vietnam in addition to its rotating membership obligations in ASEAN.
Vietnam wishes the ASEAN Future Forum to be a place to exchange and gather reputable and constructive views and opinions for the association, becoming a strategic consultation channel that can be regularly maintained long-term, meeting the requirements of resolving regional and international issues while complementing ASEAN’s existing official dialogue and cooperation frameworks.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 focuses on two main contents: promoting ASEAN's rapid and sustainable development in the context of a fluctuating strategic environment and promoting a comprehensive security approach for a people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first forum was attended by senior leaders and representatives of member countries, representatives of the association's partners, relevant ASEAN specialised agencies, and regional and international organisations, along with with experts, scholars, businesses, women, youths, etc.
The organisation of the ASEAN Future Forum is an active activity in implementing the foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress, Conclusion No.59-KL/TW of the Politburo on the orientation to participate in ASEAN until 2030 and Directive No.25-CT/TW of the Secretariat on promoting and raising the level of multilateral foreign relations until 2030.
A successful ASEAN Future Forum 2024 will contribute to promoting Vietnam’s role in shaping the future development of ASEAN, working with the association to address emerging challenges affecting the region and member countries. At the same time, it enhances Vietnam’s position in ASEAN as well as relations with the association’s partners.
