AFF 2024: PM Pham Minh Chinh calls on ASEAN to pen strategic development vision

The forum drew the attendance of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone who is Chairman of ASEAN 2024, ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn, ministers and ambassadors of ASEAN member states, ASEAN partners and representatives of international organizations.

Vietnam joins hands with ASEAN to weave more success stories 

In his opening remarks at the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the bloc to be consistent with its global, all-people and comprehensive approach to stay strong in any circumstances, and realise its goal of developing a dynamic, connected and resilient community by 2045.

Against this backdrop, he suggested ASEAN enhance solidarity and cooperation, bolster unity in diversity, promote its central role, respect differences and ensure hamornised benefits, and stay steadfast with its principles on regional and global security and development.

It is necessary for the bloc to boost strategic confidence within itself and with its partners, helping prevent conflicts and maintain peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, he said, adding ASEAN should step up digital transformation and green development while renewing traditional growth locomotives and creating new and sustainable ones for the coming time.

He recommended the bloc enhance harmonised, sustainable and inclusive development, and not sacrifice social progress and justice and the environment to pursue pure economic growth, adding it should mobilise resources and create strategic breakthroughs in mechanisms, human resources, infrastructure and national management.

The Vietnamese Government leader expressed his belief that ASEAN, together with international communities, will continue active contributions to shaping up the world’s future.

He went on to say that ASEAN is a leading priority in Vietnam’s foreign, economic and defence-security policies, and the country has made its concerted efforts for a united and strong ASEAN community which has an increasing role and position in the region and the world.

Vietnam will continue joining hands with ASEAN member states and partners to weave more success stories and open up a new strategic future for an ASEAN Community of dynamism, resilience, solidarity and unity in diversity, making contributions to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development, he affirmed.

Inclusive platform for meaningful dialogue and solutions

Delivering the welcome speech at the event, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stated that, this track 1.5 dialogue platform aims to address our 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. And what ASEAN and it's partners can do to ensure fast and sustainable growth and build on ASEAN community that always put its people at the center.

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.

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.

He hoped that the ASEAN Future Forum could serve as a channel to provide ideas and initiatives for the process of finalization and implementation of the ASEAN Vision 2045 and contribute to the region's voice at the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future this September and beyond. This will be a testament to the harmony between our regional efforts and the broader global agenda, an active contribution of ASEAN in global governance and a confirmation of our commitment to being a responsible and proactive member of the international community.

In the long run, it is our hope and expectation that the ASEAN Future Forum will become an annual Forum of ASEAN. By ASEAN, and for ASEAN, for the interests of the people of ASEAN.