A place to share new and creative ideas

The forum has ASEAN as its main theme.

Commenting on the biggest difference between the ASEAN Future Forum and many other international forums such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Future of Asia Conference, and the Raisina Dialogue, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet said that the shortest answer lies in the word ASEAN in the forum's name: "ASEAN Future Forum".

Thứ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Đỗ Hùng Việt — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, all other forums may have different topics, different geographical scopes, different contents, and different participants, but there has not been a forum whose main subject is ASEAN, in line with the desire to promote ASEAN's central role.

"Therefore, we see that there needs to be a forum dedicated to ASEAN, by ASEAN, for ASEAN and for the people of ASEAN. That is the biggest difference of the ASEAN Future Forum," Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet shared.

The Deputy Minister hoped that the Forum would create a platform for all stakeholders to share new and creative ideas. From there, ASEAN leaders could refer to them in the process of building ASEAN's strategies and visions in the coming time, contributing to bringing practical benefits to the people of ASEAN.

For Vietnam, Deputy Minister Viet said, this is expected to be the largest multilateral event that Vietnam will host in 2024. This initiative by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once again demonstrates Vietnam's proactiveness, desire to contribute more positively to regional cooperation and desire to promote Vietnam's leading and core role in regional and global cooperation.

"I believe this forum will be successfully organized and will create momentum for us to maintain the organization of the forum for many years to come," Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed.

According to Mr. Do Hung Viet, the Forum Organizing Committee has received direct registrations from nearly 400 delegates, including many speakers who are government and ministerial leaders of ASEAN member countries.

In particular, the Forum was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone - the ASEAN Chair in 2024, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Brunei Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will deliver video messages to the Forum. In addition, many leading regional and international scholars have confirmed their attendance.

"With the forum being held for the first time, we are very pleased to receive widespread and high-level attention and response from all sectors in ASEAN and partner countries," said Deputy Minister Viet.

It is expected that there will be a summary of the opinions exchanged and statements made at the forum to be sent through ASEAN's official channels, from the senior official channel to the foreign minister channel, specialized ministers and to the ASEAN senior leaders.

The forum is also expected to provide a joint ASEAN information and recommendations to the United Nations, demonstrating this as one of the ASEAN region's contributions to the process of organizing the United Nations Future Summit, scheduled to be held next September.

Discussing the harmony between development and environmental protection

The wide participation of many sectors at the ASEAN Future Forum, according to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be one of the important ways for messages to reach the ASEAN people widely.

Launching the logo of ASEAN Future Forum 2024

With the theme of "fast and sustainable development, taking people as the center", Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet informed that this forum also had the participation of a number of leading enterprises in Vietnam and the region. For fast and sustainable development, issues related to economic cooperation, investment, and trade activities with the participation of enterprises will have important meanings.

In addition to the plenary sessions, the Forum will hold a session dedicated to businesses with the theme of taking advantage of opportunities for development in the current context of digital transformation. This session will be co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, with the participation of a number of experts in this field as well as many businesses from Vietnam, ASEAN and partner countries.

"I think this will be a very valuable opportunity for businesses to discuss and share about the advantages, difficulties and opportunities that businesses can take advantage of in the current context of digital transformation. This is also a very good opportunity for businesses to connect, build new networks, and take advantage of the opportunities that digital transformation brings to their business operations," said Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet.

The issue of rapid, sustainable and people-centered development is a common concern of the world and all ASEAN countries. This is a basic and essential need of ASEAN in the context that we are facing many economic difficulties as well as non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, natural disasters or epidemics, supply chain disruptions, etc.

Therefore, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed that this forum will focus on discussing how to achieve harmony between development and environmental protection, climate change response, and social security; how to always put people at the center of all development decisions of each country as well as the region.

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