“Building a United, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformations”

At the 43rd ASEAN summit, Prime Minister H.E. Pham Minh Chinh announced Viet Nam’s initiative, The ASEAN Future Forum, as a multi-stakeholder, multi-layered, and multi-dimensional platform to complement existing ASEAN Forums and help policymakers outline a viable and effective long-term path for the Community. 

The ASEAN Future Forum aims at the following objectives:

  1. Promoting insightful and comprehensive discussions in both practical and visionary ways among various stakeholders, within and beyond the region, involving government leaders, policy-makers, experts and practitioners (business community, youths and other stakeholders) on issues vital for ASEAN’s future and its progress;

  2. Generating actionable policy recommendations and initiatives be presented for consideration by ASEAN leaders and policymakers, thereby directly contributing to the decision-making process at the highest levels;

  3. Supporting the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the realisation of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, among others, upholding ASEAN’s key values and principles while chartering a sustainable trajectory path for the organization in the longer term;

  4. Deepening trust, understanding and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between ASEAN Member States and its external partners, as well as all relevant stakeholders interested in fostering a progressive future for ASEAN;

  5. Strengthening ASEAN’s institutional capacity so that it could better navigate the complexities of contemporary regional and global landscapes.

H.E. Pham Minh Chinh

Prime Minister, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

ASEAN:
Adapting to a transforming world

Since its founding in 1967, ASEAN has evolved into an indispensable regional actor by actively fostering peace, security and development through promoting dialogue and cooperation in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia- Indo-Pacific region.

Today, the ASEAN Community faces an increasingly complex strategic landscape, marked by significant and rapid global transformations. Armed conflicts have returned to the forefront of global geopolitics. In the Indo-Pacific region, the ongoing strategic competition among major powers and the proliferation of minilateral groupings necessitate a rigorous reassessment of ASEAN's strategic positioning in order to ensure its centrality in regional affairs.

Additionally, the emergence of powerful technologies such as quantum computing, synthetic biology, robotics and most importantly, artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force in governance, security, and economic development are presenting both unprecedented opportunities and challenges for ASEAN Member States.

Overall, shifting global and regional geopolitical dynamics, the acceleration of technological advancements, and pressing global challenges such as climate change, rising inequality and economic uncertainties are likely to significantly reshape the international order in the coming years.

As ASEAN lays out its Community Vision 2045, critical questions arise: How can ASEAN Member States navigate the fragmented strategic landscape while safeguarding its legitimate interests? How can ASEAN adapt its fundamental principles to address 21st century challenges while preserving its core values?

What role should ASEAN play in shaping global norms, particularly in emerging fields like AI governance? How can ASEAN enhance its resilience and unity in the face of ongoing fragmentation of the international system?