HANOI – The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an international press conference on Thursday to announce the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025, set to take place from February 25 to 26 under the theme “Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN Amidst Global Transformations.”
The forum, a key initiative to foster dialogue and generate innovative solutions for ASEAN’s future development, will bring together senior leaders, diplomats, business representatives, and experts from across the region and beyond. Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính is expected to deliver the opening keynote address.
Strategic Vision for ASEAN’s Future
Trịnh Minh Mạnh, Acting Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and chair of the press conference, emphasized the importance of the event, calling it a crucial platform for addressing ASEAN’s challenges and opportunities in an evolving geopolitical landscape.
“The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 aims to create an open and inclusive space for dialogue, where key issues affecting ASEAN can be discussed. It provides ideas, proposals, and initiatives that will help shape the bloc’s future development,” Mạnh explained. “The forum’s recommendations will complement official ASEAN discussions at the Track 1 level, supporting the ASEAN Community-building process. We aim for this event to become an incubator for innovative ideas that will drive ASEAN forward.”
For Vietnam, AFF 2025 holds special significance as it coincides with the country’s 30th anniversary as an ASEAN member. The event underscores Vietnam’s proactive and responsible role in the region and highlights its growing influence in shaping ASEAN’s future.
“This forum reflects Vietnam’s maturity in ASEAN, transitioning from a participant to an active contributor. Through concrete and practical initiatives like AFF, Vietnam demonstrates its commitment to the ASEAN Community,” Mạnh added.
High-profile Attendance and Extensive Agenda
The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 will be one of the largest multilateral events hosted by Vietnam in 2025. More than 500 delegates are expected to attend, including heads of state, senior officials, ambassadors, business leaders, and experts from ASEAN member states and partner countries.
Confirmed attendees include:
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim
- Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn
Additionally, 10 deputy prime ministers, ministers, or equivalent officials from ASEAN and partner nations will participate in the forum.
According to the organizing committee, the forum will feature a rich and diverse program, including 12 activities such as one high-level session, five plenary sessions, a gala dinner, a working lunch session, and various other networking engagements.
Building on the Success of AFF 2024
Reflecting on the success of the first ASEAN Future Forum held in April 2024, Mạnh noted that it had laid a strong foundation for what is becoming an essential platform for the region.
“AFF 2024 received high praise domestically and internationally. It set the stage for an exclusive forum designed by ASEAN, for ASEAN, yet open and inclusive. This reflects the very spirit of ASEAN,” Mạnh said.
The organizers hope that AFF 2025 will solidify the forum’s identity and establish AFF Hanoi as a brand synonymous with forward-looking dialogue and regional cooperation.
“Our expectation is that AFF 2025 will build on the success of its predecessor and begin to establish a unique identity. From 2026 onward, we aim to strengthen this identity and enhance its recognition at the regional and global levels,” Mạnh added.
Why the ASEAN Future Forum Matters
The ASEAN Future Forum stands out as a vital event in shaping the future trajectory of the ASEAN bloc. Amid rising global uncertainties—ranging from geopolitical tensions to economic disruptions and climate change—the forum serves as a much-needed platform for collective action and regional resilience.
For Vietnam, the forum not only reinforces its diplomatic leadership but also aligns with its long-term strategy of deeper regional integration and multilateralism. As ASEAN navigates an increasingly complex global landscape, platforms like AFF offer opportunities to foster unity, strengthen cooperation, and promote sustainable growth in Southeast Asia. (zai)