Forum to discuss new initiatives on ASEAN future vision: Deputy FM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (first left) attends the dialogue between ASEAN leaders and youths in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 10. (Photo: VNA)

The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024), which will take place in Hanoi on April 23, is expected to create a platform for stakeholders to contribute ideas and initiatives on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s future vision, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet has said.

This is a forum exclusively for ASEAN, of ASEAN, and for its people, where all stakeholders will share new initiativesto help ASEAN leaders devise strategies and visions for the group in the coming time, helping to bring practical benefits to people, he said in an interview granted to the press.

Nearly 400 delegates have registered to take part in the forum, Viet said, noting that government leaders and ministers from ASEAN countries are scheduled to deliver speeches. They include Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos - ASEAN Chair 2024, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, andformer British Prime Minister Tony Blairwill send pre-recorded messages to the forum.

Many leading regional and international scholars have also confirmed their attendance, including former Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa and former Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet. (Photo: VNA)

A summary of opinions to be raised at the forum will be sent toASEAN high-ranking leaders through official channels. The bloc's proposals are also expected to be forwarded to the UN as one of its contributions to preparations for the UN Summit of the Future in September.

In addition to plenary sessions, there will be a business session on how to optimise development opportunities amidstthe current digital transformation. It will be co-chaired by PM Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay, with the participation experts and enterprises of Vietnam, ASEAN and partner countries.

Viet said the session will offer a chance for businesses to look into advantages, difficulties and opportunities in the context of digital transformation, and build new networks.

The official stressed that rapid, sustainable and people-centred development is an issue of common concern of the world and all ASEAN countries. This is a basic and essential need of ASEAN given many economic difficulties as well as non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, natural disasters or epidemics, and supply chain disruptions.

To this end, the forum will examine how to harmonise between development and environmental protection and climate change response, to ensure social security, as well as to place people at the centre of all development-related decisions of each country and the region as a whole.

As one of the biggest multilateral diplomatic events hosted by Vietnam this year, the forum once again demonstrates Vietnam's desire to contribute more to regional cooperation and promote its core role in regional and international collaboration, he said./.