AFF 2026: Dialogue to forge a resilient and people-centered ASEAN

Deputy Minister, AFF 2026 carries the theme “Peace, Prosperity, and People-Centered Development”. Why did Vietnam choose this message for this year's Forum?

This year's theme accurately reflects the core priorities that ASEAN and the entire region are pursuing. Peace is a prerequisite for development; prosperity is the common goal of all member states; and placing people at the center is the overarching spirit of the ASEAN Community.

The future of the region cannot be shaped without the participation of the people themselves – who are both the subjects and beneficiaries of the cooperation process.

Therefore, this year's Forum is designed as an open and broad dialogue space, where not only leaders but also scholars, businesses, youth, social organizations, and representatives of political parties and localities can voice their opinions.

The 3rd ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) will take place in Hanoi from June 9-10 with the theme “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and People-Centered Development”. (Source: Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam)

The message about ASEAN's central role was recently emphasized by General Secretary and President To Lam at the Shangri-La Dialogue. How does AFF 2026 continue that spirit, Deputy Minister?

At the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the need to create an open, inclusive regional structure with ASEAN at its center.

Our Party and State leader also noted that ASEAN's central role is not inherent but needs to be reinforced through solidarity, strategic autonomy, and the ability to create a common agenda.

AFF 2026 represents a continuation and concretization of that spirit at the regional dialogue level. The Forum is where ASEAN and its partners discuss ways to maintain the Association's position in a strategically volatile environment so that all initiatives and new mechanisms complement each other without undermining ASEAN's central role.

Vietnam's initiative and persistent organization of a forum like AFF, along with proactive and responsible participation in regional and international mechanisms, clearly demonstrate the spirit of an active, responsible member. This is also how Vietnam makes practical contributions to the peace, stability, and common development of the region.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ministry's Party Committee, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong answers press questions. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Deputy Minister, resilience is also a prominent keyword of the Forum. Could you elaborate on this concept?

Resilience is a vital requirement in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world. However, I want to emphasize an important point: resilience does not mean isolation or self-reliance alone.

For medium and small countries, and for a region like ASEAN, true resilience is achieved through cooperation. A nation that isolates itself does not become safer but rather more easily overlooked.

Sustainable strength does not come from isolation but from becoming an indispensable link in multiple cooperation networks so that no party can easily exert unilateral pressure.

When members connect, share resources, integrate infrastructure, and coordinate policies, each country becomes more resilient, as does the entire community. A resilient ASEAN is one that turns connectivity into its own resource.

This spirit is clearly reflected in this year's discussions, from intra-bloc solidarity, conflict prevention, AI governance to energy security.

What we are passionate about is bringing seemingly macro issues closer to people's lives: aiming for a “human-centered AI” approach to help people adapt to the digital economy, bridging the digital divide; and promoting green transition, energy security linked to the practical benefits of the community. All aim to strengthen ASEAN's autonomy on a cooperative foundation.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ministry's Party Committee, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong introduces the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 at the international press conference on May 26. (Photo: Thanh Long)

This year, the Forum coincides with a number of important high-level foreign activities and includes many new participants. Could you share more, Deputy Minister?

Indeed. On the occasion of the Forum, four Prime Ministers from ASEAN member countries will attend and pay official visit to Vietnam, including Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul, and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. The presence of high-level leaders from many countries clearly demonstrates regional cohesion and Vietnam's proactive, responsible role.

Regarding participants, there are two notable new points this year. For the first time, AFF has a dedicated discussion session for cooperation among political parties in Southeast Asia – a new dialogue channel, supplementing government-to-government cooperation; and for the first time, the Forum hosts the ASEAN Cities Leaders Conference chaired by Hanoi City.

Along with a series of side events on the Mekong sub-region, Southeast Asian youth, and AI governance, the participation of political parties, cities, youth, and businesses shows that AFF is truly an open forum, where policies are discussed from multiple channels to be more practical, directly serving the goal of placing people at the center.

What are your expectations for this year's Forum, Deputy Minister?

The ASEAN Future Forum is a Vietnamese initiative, announced at the 2023 ASEAN Summit. Through two editions in 2024 and 2025, many ideas and initiatives from the Forum have been adopted and reflected in the documents of the ASEAN Summits of the same year. This shows that AFF is not just an academic exchange venue but truly supplements the official ASEAN processes.

This year, the Forum takes place as ASEAN is implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. It is also the first major high-level multilateral foreign event hosted by Vietnam after the 14th National Party Congress, the 16th National Assembly elections, and the People's Councils at all levels.

We hope AFF 2026 will contribute more perspectives, initiatives, and practical policy recommendations to the ASEAN Community building process.

Through the Forum, Vietnam wishes to continue demonstrating its role as an active, positive member, making responsible contributions to the region's common work, thereby successfully implementing the Party and State's foreign policy and international integration.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!

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