Vietnam’s remarkable efforts and steadfastness

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn and ASEAN leaders attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 2023.

How does the Secretary General perceive the importance of discussing the future for ASEAN’s development path forward? ASEAN Future Forum – what does Vietnam’s initiative mean in that context?

This initiative of Vietnam is very good because the timing of the Forum is quite important, especially in the context that ASEAN is drafting and building the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 with four strategic plans. We are looking at the future of ASEAN. It is important to involve all different stakeholders in the ASEAN Community building process.

We have seen many initiatives outside the region on future trajectory and development, so the importance of the ASEAN future initiative organized by Vietnam is different. The participation of senior officials from ASEAN member countries at the forum shows support and approval for Vietnam’s initiative.

When talking about the topic of “future” on ASEAN’s path forward, we must proceed through strategic thinking and planning to help ASEAN orient and implement its future roadmap. I am confident that the ASEAN Future Forum will promote this. Therefore, Vietnam’s initiative is timely, bold and meaningful.

Faced with the current complex regional and world situation, in your opinion, what are the core values ​​that ASEAN needs to maintain at any development milestone?

In the process of development, ASEAN must maintain its core values ​​and principles because these are part of ASEAN’s identity. An important core value and principle is consensus when ASEAN makes decisions. Besides that, there is the principle of solidarity and unity. It can be affirmed that ASEAN is strong when it is united.

In addition, ASEAN must maintain its principles. We must maintain and strengthen ASEAN’s cooperative and partnership relationships. This is one of ASEAN’s strengths. We have good relationships and solid partnerships with major countries, countries, and regional and international organizations. The extent to which the principle is maintained can be identified through different types of partnerships with ASEAN, such as Dialogue Partnerships, Sectoral Dialogue Partnerships and Development Partnerships.

ASEAN’s foreign relations are also expressed through other forms, which are ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS). Furthermore, some countries that are not formal partners of ASEAN may actually engage with ASEAN under ASEAN-led mechanisms, such as within the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It is important for those countries to participate and support ASEAN’s core values. We also see that regional organizations are increasingly cooperating with each other. We are also experimenting with this with ASEAN when last year ASEAN signed memoranda of understanding with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

In addition to the core values ​​of positive and constructive cooperation, ASEAN needs to maintain the principles of transparency, openness and inclusiveness. The reason is that transparency, openness and inclusivity help build trust and I think we need a lot of trust in the region right now. We cannot allow a trust deficit to occur. Therefore, ASEAN must constantly cooperate with all partners to maintain and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region. At the same time, we must aim to ensure that Southeast Asia is completely free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.