Hanoi hosts first ASEAN Future Forum late this month

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi will host the first ASEAN Future Forum on April 23 to pave the foundation for ASEAN nations and their partners to shape the region’s future growth.

The press conference was held on April 1 to introduce the ASEAN Future Forum 2024. Photo: VOV

The idea of organizing the event was made by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, last September.

Gathering more than 200 delegates, including government officials, international organization representatives, and well-known scholars, the forum will pave the way for ASEAN nations and others to shape their future growth. This is will be one of the biggest events for Vietnam’s foreign relations activities this year.

After six decades of establishment, ASEAN is now entering a new stage of development after having accomplished the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 pact, especially in a world of uncertainties and opportunities.

“We highly anticipate that the forum will enable all related parties to come with their initiatives and contribute to the growth among ASEAN nations until 2045,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet told a press conference on April 1.

Through the forum, ASEAN nations are expected to realize our development plans, be an important part of the global community, and make great inputs for the United Nations Future Summit in September, he said.

“This is also Vietnam’s efforts to build a people-centric ASEAN community and hasten the region’s sustainable, rapid growth.”

With the theme “Developing a people-centric, sustainable, fast-growing ASEAN community”, the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 will open with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivering his remarks.

The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 will also feature speeches by ASEAN chairmanship nations, the ASEAN Secretary General, and the United Nations Secretary-General.

At the discussion panels, scholars, governments, and international organizations will discuss solutions for ASEAN’s sustainable and rapid growth, repositioning ASEAN as the new center of the world, seizing opportunities brought by the digital era, and engaging a comprehensive security approach for a people-centric ASEAN community.

Before the main event, the ASEAN Secretary-General will meet outstanding youngsters of Vietnam and other ASEAN nations on April 22 to share their concerns and ideas to drive ASEAN forward.