DAY 1 - FEBRUARY 25

Exhibition
Viet Nam's
ASEAN Journey:
30 Years of Progress and Future Aspirations

Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
08.00 - 08.30

The exhibition "Viet Nam's ASEAN Journey: 30 Years of Progress and Future Aspirations" celebrates three decades of Viet Nam's membership in ASEAN through a compelling visual narrative. This curated showcase highlights the nation's significant contributions to regional integration, economic development, and cultural exchange since joining the Association in 1995. Through historical photographs, diplomatic artifacts, and interactive displays, visitors will gain insights into Viet Nam's evolving role within ASEAN and its vision for strengthening regional cooperation in the years ahead.

Program:

  • Keynote address by H.E. Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam

  • Remarks by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN

  • Remarks by H.E. Dato' Tan Yang Thai, Ambassador of Malaysia to Viet Nam

Roundtable #1
Women,
Peace and Security:
Digital Inclusion for Sustainable Peace

Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
09.00 - 11.00

The Asia-Pacific region's digital transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for Women, Peace and Security initiatives, particularly within ASEAN. While national action plans demonstrate commitment to enhancing women's participation in peace processes through digital means, the persistent digital gender divide and emerging cybersecurity threats create barriers to digital inclusion, especially in conflict-affected areas. In response, regional stakeholders are working to strengthen peace building efforts by developing comprehensive solutions for digital inclusion, sharing best practices among member states, and creating frameworks that ensure women's meaningful participation in increasingly digitalized peace processes.

Opening remarks:

  • Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam

Moderator:

  • Amb. Nguyen Phuong Nga, Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Viet Nam, Former President of Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations

Lead Speaker:

  • H.E. Dr. Kung Phoak, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and ASEAN SOM Leader of Cambodia

Panelists:

  • Ms. Ryce Chanchai, ASEAN Governance, Peace and Security Regional Programme Lead, UN Women Indonesia

  • Sr. Capt. Sa Minh Ngoc, Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations

  • H.E. Sarah Tiffin, Ambassador, UK Mission to ASEAN

  • H.E. Vicky Singmin, Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN

Roundtable #2
Smart Agriculture
for Regional Food Security

Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
09.00 - 10.30

This roundtable will examine how emerging technologies like AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics can advance ASEAN's agricultural sector through improved crop yields and resource management. Industry experts will analyze these solutions within Southeast Asia's unique context, focusing on climate resilience and technological readiness across member states. The discussion aims to identify practical strategies for implementing smart farming solutions that strengthen regional food security and promote sustainable agriculture through cross-border collaboration.

Welcome remarks:

  • Dr. Nguyen Thi Thin, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam

Opening remarks:

  • Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development of Viet Nam 

Moderator:

  • Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, Former President, Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS)

Panelists:

  • Mr. Anggri Hervani, Deputy Director, Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resource Standardization, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia

  • Dr. Yuttana Intaravanne, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Thailand

  • Mr. Manoluck Bounsihalath, Director of the Center for Agriculture and Forestry Information and Communication National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, Laos

  • Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, Former President, Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS)

  • Dr Kar Mun Chooi, Senior Scientist, Institute for Plant and Food Research, New Zealand

  • Special guest: Mr. Duong Hai Dang - Coffee Master, Executive Assistant Board,Trung Nguyen Legend Corporation, Viet Nam

Working lunch
ASEAN - UK YPS Young Scholars
and DAV Students

Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
11.15 - 12.30

Opening session

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
14.00 - 14.50

Welcome remarks by H.E. Bui Thanh Son
Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam

Keynote speech by H.E. Pham Minh Chinh
Prime Minister of Viet Nam

Keynote speech by H.E. José Ramos-Horta
President of Timor Leste

VIDEO MESSAGES

H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Prime Minister of Thailand

H.E. Amina J. Mohammed
Deputy Secretary – General of the United Nations

H.E. Ursula von der Leyen
President of European Commission

REMARKS

Remarks by H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith
Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR

Remarks by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn
Secretary-General of ASEAN

Plenary session I
Megatrends: Envisioning ASEAN
and the World in 2035

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
15.15 - 16.45

This session will explore the major trends and transformative forces shaping the global landscape and ASEAN's future by 2035. Distinguished experts will present their visions and analyses of the key megatrends expected to define the next decade. Topics will include the future trajectory of globalization - whether it will advance or retreat - and its implications for regional integration and trade. Other critical areas of exploration will be the geopolitical landscape and potential power shifts, the long-term impacts of climate change on migration patterns and food security, and the socioeconomic challenges posed by rapidly-aging populations.

Moderator:

  • Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and Chairman, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI)

Lead Speakers:

  • H.E. Maris Sangiampongsa, Foreign Minister of Thailand

  • Prof. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Panelists:

  • H.E. Charles Hay, Director, South East Asia and Pacific Directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

  • Mr. Tetsuya Watanabe, President, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) 

  • H.E. Amb. Nguyen Trung Thanh, Former Assistant Foreign Minister, ASEAN SOM Leader of Viet Nam

  • H.E. Amb. Ian G. McKay, Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific, Canada

Plenary session II
Revisiting ASEAN's Fundamentals: Preparing for Future Challenges

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
16.45 - 18.15

This plenary session aims to fundamentally reassess ASEAN's foundations in the new geopolitical context. The discussion will focus on analyzing the principles and mechanisms that have contributed to ASEAN's success thus far, while identifying areas that need adaptation to align with new geopolitical realities. Delegates are expected to propose novel ideas to drive ASEAN's development, from institutional reforms to enhanced cooperation in emerging fields. The goal is to find innovative approaches for ASEAN to maintain unity and strengthen its resilience while preserving the core values that have shaped the organization's identity for decades.

Moderator:

  • Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia

Lead Speakers:

  • H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia

  • Amb. Bilahari Kausikan, Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore

Panelists:

  • H.E. Amb. Pham Quang Vinh, Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Former ASEAN SOM Leader of Vietnam

  • H.E. Amb. Elizabeth Buensuceso, Eminent Person to the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Post-2025 Vision, Philippines

  • Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Fellow, Institute for Strategic and International Studies, Thailand

  • Ms. Vithaya Xayavong, Director General, Institute for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR

Gala Dinner
~ By invitation only ~

DAY 2 - FEBRUARY 26

Keynote session

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
08.30 - 09.45

H.E. Pham Minh Chinh
Prime Minister of Viet Nam

The Right Honourable
Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
ASEAN Chair 2025

The Right Honourable
Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister of New Zealand

H.E. José Ramos-Horta
President of Timor Leste

Program

Keynote speech by Prime Minister of Malaysia, ASEAN Chair 2025

Keynote speech by Prime Minister of New Zealand

Q&A session with all Senior Leaders

Plenary session III
ASEAN Subregional Cooperation for Resilience and Sustainability

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
10.15 - 11.45

This session will discuss strategies for leveraging the diverse strengths of ASEAN's subregions to address environmental challenges and build economic resilience. Key topics will include developing green supply chains, fostering sustainable industries that capitalize on local resources, enhancing cross-border environmental cooperation, and attracting investments in eco-friendly subregional projects. The goal is to explore innovative approaches to balance economic growth with environmental protection, ultimately strengthening ASEAN's collective resilience to climate change and other emerging challenges.

Moderator:

  • Assoc. Prof. Bradley Murg, Senior Advisor, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace

Lead Speakers:

  • H.E. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR

  • Prof. Alvin Ang, Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS)

Panelists:

  • H.E. Tiffany McDonald, Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN

  • Prof. Li Kaisheng, Vice-President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies

  • H.E. Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of EU to ASEAN

  • Dr. Antoinette R. Raquiza, President, Asia-Pacific Pathways for Progress Foundation, Philippines

  • Dr. Sovinda Po, Director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh

Tech Lunch
“A Future-ready ASEAN: Harnessing the power of emerging technologies”
hosted by
H.E. Pham Minh Chinh
with the presence of the
Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon
~ By invitation only ~

Program

Moderator: H.E. Nguyen Minh Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam

Remarks: the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand

Speakers:

• H.E. Iain Frew, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam

• Mr. Tetsuya Watanabe, President, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

• Ms. Shweta Khurana, Senior Director, Asia Pacific & Japan, Government Partnerships and Initiatives, International Government Affairs, Intel Corporation

• Mr. Steven Truong Quoc Hung, Vice President, Director of Nvidia Vietnam R&D Center

• Mr. Tao Duc Thang, Chairman & CEO, Viettel Group

• Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Founding Chairman, SOVICO

• Representative of Huawei (tbc)

• Mr. Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Vietnam

• Representative of Vingroup (tbc)

• Mr. Pham Dang Khoa (Mitchell Pham), Co-founder and Director of Augen Software Group (Code HQ)

Open discussion

Closing Remarks: H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam

Plenary session IV
AI, Quantum Computing, and Beyond: Balancing Innovation and Regulation for Comprehensive Security

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
14.00 - 15.30

This plenary session will explore the complex interplay between cutting-edge technologies and regional security in ASEAN and beyond. Experts will discuss opportunities and challenges of AI, quantum computing, synthetic biology and other emerging technologies in both military and civilian applications. The focus will be on balancing technological innovation with responsible governance, addressing potential risks including cybercrime and developing safety frameworks. Discussions will cover international norms, legal standards, responsible state behaviours and effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that advancements in critical technologies contribute positively to ASEAN's comprehensive security.

Moderator:

  • Dr. Damon Salesa, Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland Technology, New Zealand

Lead Speakers:

  • Video message by H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore

  • Video message by H.E. Cho Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea (TBC)

  • H.E. Sun Weidong, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China 

  • Prof. Matthias C. Kettemann, University of Innsbruck

Panelists:

  • Prof. James Der Derian, Director of the Centre of International Security Studies, University of Sydney

  • Ms. Asha Hemrajani, Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies 

  • Dr. Elina Noor, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Mr. Damian Hickey, Regional Director of Southeast Asia, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)

Plenary session V
Bridging Divides: ASEAN's Potential
in a Fragmented World

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
15.45 - 17.15

This plenary session explores ASEAN's potential role in bridging divides in a fragmented world. Discussions will focus on ASEAN's Centrality and its place in the evolving regional architecture, emphasizing its role to foster meaningful dialogues amidst great power competition. Experts will consider how ASEAN can leverage its unique position to promote cooperation, including with minilateral groupings, while maintaining its unity. The session will also explore ways to strengthen ASEAN's voice in international fora while enhancing its role as a unifying force, balancing regional interests with the challenges of an evolving global order.

Moderator:

  • Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Acting President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam

Lead Speakers:

  • Video message by H.E. Takeshi Iwaya, Foreign Minister of Japan

  • Video message by H.E. David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, United Kingdom

  • The Honorable Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, India

  • Amb. Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

Panelists:

  • Prof. Amitav Acharya, Distinguished Professor, American University

  • Dr. Valeria Vershinina, Deputy Director, ASEAN Centre, MGIMO University

  • Amb. Marc Abensour, Ambassador for the Indo-Pacific, France

  • Mr. Daniel Flitton, Managing Editor, The Interpreter, Lowy Institute

Closing session

Meliá Hanoi Hotel
17.15 - 17.30

Closing remarks by H.E. Bui Thanh Son
Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam

Acknowledgement remarks by
Dr. Nguyen Hung Son
Acting President of the
Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam