Viet Nam has far-sighted and broad vision on ASEAN's future

The forum exclusively focuses on the future of ASEAN, which is in line with the bloc's ongoing efforts in formulating the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

ASEAN first mentioned this process by adopting the Ha Noi Declaration on the ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision in November 2020 when Viet Nam assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship Year.

The forum is timely and urgent given challenges faced by the region and governments of ASEAN member countries, he said.

A forum like this, initiated by an ASEAN member, will be very useful in helping us think through what lies ahead and what needs to be leapfrogged," he added.

The forum, initiated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, drew the participation of nearly 400 delegates, including leaders, ministers, senior officials, scholars, youth representatives, and organizations.

This track 1.5 dialogue platform aims to address shared challenges, such as how to maintain ASEAN's centrality as the strategic environment changes, how to balance the diverse interests of member states, how to ensure harmony between innovation and the preservation of ASEAN's core values, said Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son in his welcome speech.

"By bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including leaders, ministers, senior officials, scholars, youth representatives, and organizations, we seek to foster inclusive exchanges and discussions that ultimately lead to ideas and solutions that best serve the needs of our people,"said Bui.

As such, the ASEAN Future Forum represents a proactive initiative to create an inclusive platform for meaningful dialogue and solutions to the pressing questions that will have a great impact on the future of the people of ASEAN, stressed the Vietnamese minister./.