BANGKOK, Thailand – The ASEAN Future Forum 2025, under the theme “Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN Amidst Global Transformations,” took place in Hanoi on February 25-26.
This forum is part of an initiative proposed by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in 2023. It was the second edition of the ASEAN Future Forum and saw the participation of over 500 delegates, including government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and scholars from across the region and beyond. Key figures included Prime Ministers Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia (ASEAN Chair 2025), Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, and President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste, along with 10 deputy prime ministers, ministers, and the ASEAN Secretary General.
Additionally, video messages were delivered by Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.
In his opening remarks, PM Chinh stressed the growing urgency of addressing the future and planning for it. He noted that ASEAN is currently positioned better than ever before, yet faces significant challenges. He emphasized that ASEAN’s ability to overcome these challenges hinges on strategic thinking, clear roadmaps, concentrated resources, and decisive action.
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, in his role as ASEAN Chair 2025, echoed these sentiments, highlighting ASEAN’s need to be a “beacon of hope” for a resilient, harmonious, and economically dynamic region amidst geopolitical uncertainties. He reiterated the importance of ASEAN’s centrality and strategic autonomy, warning that internal divisions could undermine the bloc’s influence.
Anwar also praised Vietnam’s transformation from adversity to modernity, calling it a model of successful economic change.
In her video message, Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized the importance of ASEAN’s self-resilience in addressing new challenges and ensuring sustainable, inclusive growth. She called for stronger coordination to tackle security threats and urged ASEAN to adopt a unified approach on regional and global issues based on shared interests and principles.
Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, attending the forum for the first time as an observer on the path to full ASEAN membership, underscored the necessity of enhancing preventive diplomacy. He highlighted the need for ASEAN to address growing complexities, such as the South China Sea and Myanmar, to foster a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Southeast Asia.
Over the course of the two-day event, participants reaffirmed that as ASEAN continues to evolve, it must preserve its core values and principles, which are integral to its identity. These include decision-making by consensus, solidarity, and unity. ASEAN’s strength lies in its unity, and it must maintain its principle of engagement, strengthening cooperation with key partners, especially major global powers. Additionally, transparency, openness, and inclusivity are vital principles that must be upheld.
Looking ahead, ASEAN must safeguard its core values and internal cohesion while promoting its central role in regional and global matters. The bloc must prioritize stability, cooperation, economic development, and the promotion of international law.
For Vietnam, 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of its ASEAN membership, a significant milestone in the country’s integration into the region and the world. As one of Vietnam’s largest diplomatic events this year, the forum reflects the country’s growing role in ASEAN, evolving from a participant to an active contributor, driving collective efforts with practical and impactful initiatives.
Vietnam hopes that the forum, under the guiding spirit of “by ASEAN, for ASEAN,” will serve as a platform for generating ideas and initiatives that will shape ASEAN’s future development. (NNT)
