Vietnam will bring together ASEAN leaders and global partners to map out a vision for ASEAN’s unity and resilience in a world of rapid change.
Vietnam will host the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 (AFF 2025) in Hanoi on February 25-26, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders from ASEAN nations, partner countries, and scholars gathering to discuss ASEAN's future and its role in regional unity and global resilience.
At a press conference on February 13, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that AFF 2025 will be the country's first major multilateral event of the year, held under the theme “Building a Cohesive, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN in a Changing World.”
According to Trinh Minh Manh, Acting Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the forum aims to create an open and in-depth exchange on ASEAN’s key issues.
It will generate ideas, proposals, and initiatives to shape ASEAN's future path and support official ASEAN discussions at the ministerial level.
Vietnam's growing role in ASEAN
Manh emphasized that the forum reflects Vietnam’s proactive and responsible role as an influential ASEAN member. In 2025, Vietnam will mark 30 years of ASEAN membership, a historic milestone in its regional and global integration.
“AFF 2025 demonstrates Vietnam’s maturity and increasing contributions to ASEAN, offering tangible and practical initiatives to strengthen the bloc’s unity and resilience,” Manh said.
The forum will feature 12 sessions, including one high-level session, five plenary sessions, a gala dinner, and a working lunch.
The first day will focus on:
- Major Global Trends Impacting ASEAN by 2035
- Strengthening ASEAN’s Core Principles to Address Future Challenges
- On February 26, discussions will cover:
- Regional Sub-Area Cooperation for Resilience and Sustainable Development
- Managing Emerging Technologies to Ensure Comprehensive Security
- ASEAN’s Role in Maintaining Peace in a Fragmented World
- A Special Session on ASEAN’s Future Readiness and Technological Leadership
High-Level Participation from ASEAN and Beyond
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will chair the high-level plenary session on February 26, alongside top leaders from ASEAN nations and key partners.
Confirmed attendees include Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Additionally, around 10 deputy prime ministers, ministers, and the ASEAN Secretary-General are expected to participate.
Manh noted that last year’s ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2024) was highly successful, drawing praise from both domestic and international audiences. The 2025 edition is longer, more comprehensive, and will feature more high-profile leaders.
The AFF initiative is gaining recognition as a unique and inclusive ASEAN forum, positioning itself alongside global strategic dialogues like the Shangri-La Dialogue (Singapore) and the Munich Security Conference (Germany).
Source : VietNamNet
Photo: VietNamNet
February 14, 2025
