ASEAN Future Forum 2025: Advancing the journey of connecting ideas
Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, Director General of the ASEAN Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that, driven by the efforts of the Party and the people in steering the country into a new era, Viet Nam will continue its journey in ASEAN with profound contributions that reflect its distinct “branding”. The ASEAN Future Forum is among these efforts.
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| Heads of delegations and delegates at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Since Viet Nam became an official member of ASEAN 30 years ago, the country has been recognized as a reliable and responsible member of both ASEAN and the international community. Viet Nam has maximized its efforts, engaged in sincere and trust-based cooperation, and made dedicated contributions. How has that “branding” been built over the past three decades?
On 28 July 1995, Viet Nam officially became a member of ASEAN. In terms of duration, 30 years is not long compared to ASEAN’s nearly 60 years of establishment and development. However, through dedication, sincerity, and responsibility, Viet Nam has affirmed its role and prestige over this three-decade journey, establishing its own “branding”, as you mentioned. Viet Nam has made significant contributions on multiple levels, from defining strategic policies to taking determined actions and ensuring resolute implementation.
First of all, Viet Nam’s contributions have been aligned with ASEAN’s historical development. We fostered the completion of ASEAN-10 in the 1990s and is providing heartfelt support for Timor-Leste’s prompt admission to the ASEAN family. We contributed to the building of strategic documents such as ASEAN Vision 2020, the Ha Noi Plan of Action (1999-2004), and ASEAN Charter, and we are actively shaping ASEAN’s development path beyond 2025.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2025, set to take place in the coming days, marks another step in advancing Viet Nam’s international standing and prestige. Since its successful launch in 2024, the Future Forum has been evolving into a trusted platform for robust, extensive, and substantive discussions on issues facing the future of ASEAN and the region.
The next step involves efforts to implement strategic policies – a process that demands strong commitment from all member states. For Viet Nam, as a latecomer to ASEAN integration, this requires even greater effort and determination.
Over the past 30 years, with responsibility and sincere cooperation, we can proudly say that we have been able to complete all missions and responsibilities of a member state. Particularly, during our 2020 Chairmanship, I believe that Viet Nam left a deep impression about our leadership role and skills. In the following years, we not only maintained cooperation momentum amid the hardship of Covid-19 but also built trust and motivation for ASEAN in the post-Covid period.
The Ha Noi Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision has laid the groundwork for ASEAN’s strategic frameworks toward 2045, which will be adopted this year.
Lastly, we must highlight the steadfast involvement of all ministries and departments in ensuring the effective implementation of ASEAN strategies. ASEAN cooperation can be likened to a dynamic 3D painting that continuously evolves over time and expands in scope, depth and impact.
In the coming days, during the ASEAN Future Forum, we will have the opportunity to reflect on past milestones through images, photographs, and other valuable materials at the exhibition 30 Years of Viet Nam’s Journey in ASEAN. I am confident that, with the efforts of the Party and people leading the nation into a new era – the nation’s soaring era – Viet Nam will continue to further our journey in ASEAN through more impressive and substantial contributions of Vietnamese branding.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates from ASEAN members at the opening session of the first ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on April 23, 2024. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
ASEAN’s nearly 60-year journey has demonstrated the resilient vitality of a strong and unified Association. In a fragmented and unpredictable world, marked by intensified rivalry among major powers, what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for ASEAN? Furthermore, will the “keys” that ASEAN holds be strong enough to navigate the turbulent and uncertain “waves” of the future?
From its inception, ASEAN’s mission has been to uphold regional peace, security, cooperation, and prosperity. The ups and downs of each period have demanded effective cooperation methods for ASEAN to adapt and thrive.
This adaptability has been the source of ASEAN’s vitality, strengthening its unity in overcoming difficulties, resiliently navigating complexities and driving breakthroughs for inclusive and sustainable development. These also serve as the key messages that Viet Nam conveys in this year’s ASEAN Future Forum.
“Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformations” reflects the core values respected by ASEAN and its member states. More than ever, ASEAN needs to fully uphold these core values to sustain its achievements and continue to flourish.
Unity is the source of strength which determines ASEAN’s success. Unity should be nurtured not only through words but also through actions. Hardship may come and go, but what remains is unity, mutual assistance, support, and companionship among family members.
Resilience is demonstrated through ASEAN’s ability to adapt to the turbulence of the times. Over the past years, the concept of “resilience” has gained increasing prominence in ASEAN’s themes and cooperation strategies, particularly in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. This underscores countries’ common interest and resolution to incorporate “resilience” into ASEAN future development orientation.
ASEAN has adopted its approach towards Inclusivity since its early days, which was recognized in ASEAN Charter. ASEAN has been building an inclusive Association, with the broad participation and contribution from its people. In light of evolving regional and global dynamics, the scope of ASEAN inclusivity can be further expanded to embrace an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at its core; to promote harmonious cooperation within ASEAN-led mechanisms; and to encourage constructive and responsible engagement from all ASEAN partners.
This year’s ASEAN Future Forum theme is highly relevant. Building on the success of 2024, I believe this year’s Forum will bring about new ideas and initiatives, particularly in advancing the core values that have shaped ASEAN’s success over the past six decades.
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| Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, Director General of the ASEAN Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
ASEAN will soon complete its ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and is reaching a long-term vision to 2045. How does ASEAN’s meticulous and methodical approach to its future roadmap mean to each member and the overall development of the Community?
With the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the groundwork began five years ago. Throughout this process, ASEAN member states have engaged in extensive consultations, gathering input from various sectors to ensure the Vision best serves the interests and aspirations of people, businesses and local communities.
A strong start is half the battle won. In my view, the Vision 2045, like previous roadmaps, holds significant importance for ASEAN and its member states in several key aspects:
First, with a well-defined and detailed roadmap, we are better prepared and more confident for the journey ahead. Preparations are underway at both national and regional levels.
Second, it enhances ASEAN’s ability to proactively respond and adapt to evolving circumstances. A key feature of the ASEAN Vision 2045 is its clear identification of major global trends, opportunities, and challenges for ASEAN and its members.
This proactive and flexible approach will allow ASEAN to maximize cooperation potential, align national priorities with regional frameworks, and strengthen partnerships. Given the increasing complexity of global challenges in the coming decades, early preparation will help minimize disruptions and ensure swift recovery and resilience.
Third, it creates new breakthrough opportunities for the future. The ASEAN Vision 2045 sets an ambitious goal for a stronger, more dynamic ASEAN at the heart of economic growth in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN’s cooperation frameworks demonstrate its proactive stance in seizing opportunities and shaping the future. We remain optimistic about ASEAN’s rise on the global stage.
The implementation of ASEAN Community Vision 2045 will be a driving force in regional cooperation. As a forum of and for ASEAN, I believe the ASEAN Future Forum will continue to generate fresh ideas and initiatives for regional collaboration and integration, contributing to the realization of an ASEAN Community that is “resilient, dynamic, innovative and people-centered”.
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