ASEAN Future Forum 2024: Second session discussed ways to ensure comprehensive security for ASEAN Community
WVR - On the afternoon of April 23, in Hanoi, the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
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| The second plenary session with the theme "Ensuring comprehensive security for a people-centered ASEAN Community." (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The session deliberated on the ASEAN comprehensive approach to ensuring regional security, considering all socio-economic and environmental aspects. Participants exchanged ideas and proposed directions to help ASEAN contribute more effectively to addressing global challenges and affirm its role and contributions to regional and global peace and security.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi emphasised the need to build a strong and resilient community and maintain its central role in response to challenges. ASEAN needs to promote greater solidarity to ensure peace, cooperation, and development in the Indo-Pacific region, where win-win dialogue and negotiations should prevail.
Foreign Minister Marsudi also highlighted the importance of adhering to and implementing international law as well as of digital governance and digital skills for people in the new era.
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| Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi emphasised the need to build a strong and resilient community. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In a pre-recorded message, President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines acknowledged Vietnam's initiative in creating the new forum, providing a platform for discussing crucial issues shaping the bloc’s future.
She said Australia's relationship with ASEAN is based on not only geographical proximity but also 50 years of cooperation, mutual respect and trust, strengthened by their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Also in a pre-recorded message, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar affirmed that India supports a united ASEAN, ASEAN's centrality, and its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. He also expressed his confidence that a united and strong ASEAN will play a constructive role in shaping a new regional architecture emerging in this region.
Emphasizing ASEAN's determination to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, the Indian Minister highlights the role of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 for activities in maritime and oceanic areas.
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| An ovierview of the second session. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Additionally, Dr. S. Jaishankar believes that India and ASEAN need to aim for a future characterized by a diverse, secure, transparent, and self-reliant supply chain. "We believe that countries in the southern hemisphere need to take on a greater international role... The roles of ASEAN and India are increasingly important in dealing with the variables of an emerging world order, and we need to cooperate and coordinate within the framework of ASEAN-India cooperation," Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed confidence.
Participating in the discussion session, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kung Phoak assessed that ASEAN has done a very good job in promoting stability and peace in the region, based on its commitment to comply with international law, principles stated in the ASEAN Charter and many other documents.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet among participants at the session. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
According to Mr. Kung Phoak, the world and the region are facing unpredictable changes, so ASEAN also needs to adapt itself. In terms of security issues, ASEAN's response to challenges alone is not sufficient; it needs to attract the participation of various stakeholders, especially specialized cooperation channels within the three pillars of ASEAN cooperation.
In the future, Mr. Kung Phoak believes that for both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, ASEAN needs a unified approach, an approach that is more ASEAN-centric, more associative in nature.
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| Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kung Phoak at the discussion session. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Former Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo commented that 2025 will mark 30 years of Vietnam becoming a member of ASEAN - a journey with many dynamic and positive contributions. Since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has focused on national development, catching up with many member countries in the region.
"Vietnam's construction of the ASEAN Future Forum Initiative is a testament to Vietnam's role within ASEAN, leading ASEAN towards the future," Mr. George Yeo pointed out.
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| Participants exchanged ideas and proposed directions to help ASEAN contribute more effectively to addressing global challenges. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
According to Kavi Chongkittavorn, a senior fellow at the Institute of Security and International Studies at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, Vietnam is playing a role in efforts to bring parties together and shape the future of ASEAN.
Recognizing the significance of the Forum, Kavi Chongkittavorn believes that identifying what ASEAN needs in the future is very important.
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| Kavi Chongkittavorn, a senior fellow at the Institute of Security and International Studies at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In a recorded message, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair emphasizes the crucial role of ASEAN in addressing issues that individual countries in the region cannot solve alone. ASEAN nations need to converge to promote the digital transformation and transition to green energy.
Mr. Tony Blair believes that ASEAN is striving to capitalize on opportunities, minimize risks, and affirms the UK's desire to continue expanding its relationship with ASEAN. The most important and challenging issue for ASEAN countries today is determining the pace of development and global change, and the UK can support governments in identifying that pace to leverage opportunities arising from this process.
"I would like to thank the Government of Vietnam, especially Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, for initiating this forum to aim for a better future for the people of ASEAN," expressed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
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| Delegates pose questions to the speakers at the Forum. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In the second discussion session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024, delegates exchanged key topics: Approaches to promoting a comprehensive regional security framework, enhancing adaptive capabilities to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, alongside economic growth; Measures to build a secure, reliable digital ecosystem and enhance the capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
ASEAN's strategy aims to promote regional cooperation in addressing cross-national challenges, while respecting the sovereignty and diverse interests of nations; Utilizing advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and big data analytics to develop innovative solutions for ensuring security and enhancing the quality of life for people.
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| Phiên toàn thể thứ hai với chủ đề "Bảo đảm an ninh toàn diện về Cộng đồng ASEAN lấy người dân làm trung tâm". (Ảnh: Nguyễn Hồng) |
The AFF 2024, themed “Toward Fast and Sustainable Growth of a People-Centered ASEAN Community”, is an important initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit last September. The forum is Vietnam's new idea aimed at creating a common platform for ASEAN member states as well as partner countries to contribute to promoting and shaping the bloc’s development path.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
