As regional and global dynamics continue to evolve rapidly, ASEAN faces an urgent need to strengthen consensus, enhance adaptability, and identify new drivers of growth. These issues will feature prominently on the AFF agenda.
Co-creating a resilient ASEAN future
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the first year of implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The need to strengthen dialogue, reinforce consensus, and seek new solutions for development has become more pressing than ever.
The theme of this year’s AFF, “Shaping a Shared Future Together: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centered,” matches the theme of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2026, “Navigating Our Shared Future.” This demonstrates the Forum’s effort to complement ASEAN’s priorities while contributing additional ideas and initiatives to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung spoke at AFF’s opening session: “If the past nearly six decades have been ASEAN’s journey of building its identity, then the coming decades will be ASEAN’s journey of shaping its future in a world where the fundamental rules of economics, technology, and global power are being rewritten. Technology is redefining competitiveness, artificial intelligence is redefining productivity, data is redefining power, and green transition is redefining development models. ASEAN must continue to uphold the spirit of solidarity, resilience, and unity in diversity, the values behind its success, but with a more innovative approach; consensus in values but dynamism in action; steadfastness in principles but innovation in methods; preserving identity while proactively grasping opportunities amid the changes of a new era.”
That spirit has been reflected in AFF 2026’s agenda, from artificial intelligence, financial technology, energy security, and sustainable development to strengthening resilience against external shocks. These discussions aim to enhance ASEAN’s resilience, adaptability, and proactive role in shaping the future.
From initiatives to actions
Since Vietnam initiated the ASEAN Future Forum at the ASEAN Summit in 2023, the Forum has been held annually and has gradually established itself as a strategic dialogue platform for the region. The AFF represents a new stage in Vietnam’s contributions to regional cooperation by proposing initiatives, organizing dialogue platforms, and connecting resources to complement ASEAN’s official processes.
Many ideas, recommendations, and discussion outcomes from the AFFs in 2024 and 2025 have been reflected in ASEAN documents. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said: “The ASEAN Future Forum, which is a bold initiative of Vietnam to advance ASEAN diplomacy regionally and globally. This is a positive contribution to ASEAN. We have to put ASEAN on the global map, and this particular forum is one of the crucial forums where Vietnam plays its role, constructively redefining the strategic narratives of ASEAN, because we have to make sure that we have strong voices of ASEAN in global affairs.”
The Forum’s growing appeal is reflected in the participation of 500 delegates from within and beyond the region. Alex Strugnell, Deputy Ambassador of the UK to Vietnam, said: “What's great about the forum is in a globalized world where we more than ever we are realizing how connected we all are. It's natural for a grouping like ASEAN and its dialogue partners like the UK to work together and think about how we can jointly address shared issues and shared challenges.”
In a constantly changing world, ASEAN’s strength lies both in its ability to adapt and its capacity to shape the future. Through inclusive, substantive dialogue, AFF 2026 will continue to affirm cooperation, consensus, and long-term vision as the foundation of ASEAN’s identity and vitality.
