Watch the livestream of World & Vietnam Newspaper at the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 here:
Delegates attended the Forum’s opening session. (Photo: Hoang Hanh)
At the Opening Session of the Forum, on the Vietnamese side, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave an official speech, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, leaders of ministries, branches, localities, and businesses.
On the side of international friends, there was Prime Minister of Laos (ASEAN Chairman 2024) Sonexay Siphandone and ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn gave a speech; Prime Minister of Malaysia (ASEAN Chairman 2025) Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres sent recorded messages to the Conference. In addition, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão sent congratulatory messages; with the presence of ASEAN Ambassadors in Vietnam; representatives of ASEAN embassies in Vietnam along with organizations, scholars, businesses and youth of ASEAN countries.
Speaking at the opening of the Forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the large participation of 500 delegates who are Ambassadors, scholars, business communities from ASEAN, partners, and international organizations has shown shows deep concern, positive response to Vietnam, and continued efforts to shape the common future of the region.
According to the Prime Minister, talking about the future and planning for the future has become more urgent than ever in the context of the world facing a major turning point, with three strategic trends.
One is Competition between regions is increasingly fierce, posing great challenges to the environment of peace, solidarity, cooperation and development at the regional and global levels.
Two The explosive trend of new trends not only opens up opportunities for breakthrough development, but also poses the risk of falling behind, especially in developing countries.
Third The trend of sustainable, inclusive development and digital economy, green growth, circular economy… is both an opportunity and a great pressure, requiring new global thinking and approaches. comprehensively, for all people, for long-term benefits.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: “In that context, after nearly 6 decades of formation and development, it can be affirmed that ASEAN has never been in a better position than it is today and has never had to face challenges like this. facing many challenges like today.
The Prime Minister said that ASEAN is the nucleus that promotes dialogue, cooperation and development, is the focus of a series of initiatives and connections in the region but is also the focus of fierce strategic competition. ASEAN’s central role is being widely recognized, although at times it is not really effective. ASEAN is the 5th largest economic bloc in the world but the level gap is still significant. Cooperation and linkage within the bloc are not really strong yet.
“The above realities require ASEAN to have a strategic, comprehensive vision and adaptability to seize opportunities, resolve challenges, and develop stably and sustainably,” the Prime Minister affirmed.
Previously, in his welcome speech, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his joy at attending the first ASEAN Future Forum and his deep gratitude for the presence and strong support of the delegates.
Minister Bui Thanh Son said that as ASEAN enters its sixth decade of existence and development, it is also the time when the Association is preparing to enter a new phase of growth after completing the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision. 2025.
At the same time, the world is undergoing profound changes. Strategic competition between major countries has returned, making geopolitical developments more complicated than ever and can seriously damage peace and stability not only in our region. but also in a broader scope than that. Along with that are rapid changes in the socio-economic situation. The world today will be very different in the next 10 to 15 years.
According to the Minister, it is this global and regional context that prompted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to make a statement that Vietnam will host the ASEAN Future Forum at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta in July. 9 last year.
The Minister emphasized that this 1.5 Dialogue Forum aims to address common challenges of the region, such as how to maintain ASEAN’s central role in the face of changes in the strategic environment, how to balance with the diverse interests of member countries, how to ensure harmony between innovation and preserving ASEAN’s core values. And what can ASEAN and its partners do to ensure rapid and sustainable growth as well as build an ASEAN community that always puts people at the center.
By bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including leaders, ministers, senior officials, academics, youth representatives and organizations, the forum aims to promote inclusive exchange and discussion, thereby providing ideas and solutions that can best serve people’s needs.
Therefore, the ASEAN Future Forum is an urgent initiative to create a comprehensive platform towards substantive dialogue and finding solutions to urgent issues that have a major impact on the future of the people of ASEAN. .
The Head of Foreign Affairs hopes that the ASEAN Future Forum can serve as a channel providing ideas and initiatives for the process of completing and implementing the ASEAN Vision 2045, while contributing to enhancing the voice of ASEAN. region at the upcoming United Nations Future Summit this September and beyond. The initiative will demonstrate the complementarity between regional efforts and the global agenda, ASEAN’s active contribution to global governance, and reaffirm the Association’s commitment to membership. responsible and proactive of the international community.
The Minister hopes that the ASEAN Future Forum will become ASEAN’s annual Forum. By ASEAN and for ASEAN, for the benefit of the people of ASEAN.
