ASEAN Future Forum initiative is very timely: Indonesian Ambassador

The ASEAN Future Forum was announced by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the ASEAN Summit that took place in Jakarta in September last year.

The forum is intended to exchange ideas and initiatives for cooperation that can contribute to the rapid, sustainable, and people-centered development in the region, he shared.

Denny Abdi referred to challenges facing the world today, including rivalries between great powers, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; climate change; food and energy security; challenges of new tech such as artificial intelligence; situation in Myanmar; the East Sea issue; and dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

Regarding the development of ASEAN in the future as well as the central role of ASEAN, Denny Abdi said, currently, the region is facing various multidimensional challenges, including the geo-political and geo-economic tensions, climate crisis, and changing demographics.

Moving forward, these challenges provide valuable lessons learned, and presente opportunities in related fields: sustainable development, green living, health sector, digital, and high-tech industries.

Given the circumstances, ASEAN must adjust their strategy and approach to develop resilience and adapt to evolving challenges. This is the significance of the ASEAN Future Forum, the diplomat highlighted.

"We want ASEAN to remain relevant and able to hold its unity and centrality, amid regional and global dynamics both in the present, and in the future. Therefore, Indonesia supports Viet Nam's initiative and look forward to participating in the Forum", shared the Ambassador.

ASEAN is able to maintain cooperation in all three pillars: political security, economy, and socio-cultural, and have turned challenges, into opportunities in many ways. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the bloc was very adaptive, utilizing digital platforms to keep activities and collaborations on-track.

"The ASEAN Future Forum organized by Viet Nam will add value to this process, with its 1.5 diplomacy track, bringing together all key stakeholders in an inclusive manner", reiterated the diplomat.

Given by the rapid economic growth of ASEAN countries, ASEAN will play a larger role. The bloc must uphold its identity and core values to ensure that it remains relevant and contributes more, not only to its member states, but also to the region and global peace and stability.

According to the Ambassador, the bloc must make all efforts to make sure it will remain in the driver seat in navigating regional dynamics. This role of ASEAN is important to ensure that peace and stability in the region can be maintained.

The model of ASEAN is developed based on these core values, including: Consistent and credible, upholding ASEAN Charter, international law, as well as responsive to future challenges; engaging and involving all related stakeholders; and partnership and cooperation, through the habit of dialogue and collaboration.

"Through implementation of these principles, we can uphold ASEAN unity and centrality, maintaining a region of peace, stability, and prosperity", he shared.

Viet Nam makes great strides in line with vision of ASEAN

Denny Abdi said, since becoming a full member of ASEAN in 1995, Viet Nam has been very active and engaging in many discussions and promoting many initiatives.

The nation has made great strides in line with the vision of ASEAN, including the organization of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024.

Viet Nam is also garnering stronger multilateral presence, through active participation on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, women empowerment, peace and security, trade, and high-technology.

The nation has deployed officers in United Nations peacekeeping operations in South Sudan and Abyei. Together with Indonesia, Viet Nam is also a partner of Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), to accelerate clean energy and green transition, highlighted the diplomat.

Viet Nam's foreign policy of "self-reliance and independence" is fundamental in building Viet Nam's extensive global engagement and is in-sync with the principles in the ASEAN Charter.

This includes: respect for independence and sovereignty; collective responsibility in enhancing peace, security, and prosperity; and respect for different cultures in the spirit of unity in diversity, he added.

The integration of Viet Nam into the regional and global economy and supply chain has proven to make positive contributions for ASEAN. The country has become a reliable partner for development and a constructive member of international community in addressing global challenges, underlined the Ambassador./.