In his concluding remark at the AFF in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Trung said delegates discussed a wide range of issues, including long-term matters such as ASEAN resilience and cohesion, conflict prevention, and transformation of growth and development models. The discussions emphasized the inclusive use of AI and energy security; there were very creative ideas to promote the shift from "Made in ASEAN" to "Made by ASEAN", he added.
This year, the ASEAN Cities Leaders Conference, the dialogue among political party representatives from ASEAN member countries, the youth exchanges, and the Mekong sub-region sessions were held for the first time, according to the FM.
He called for greater ASEAN's collective efforts, saying “ASEAN's central role in the regional structure requires us to take more active and proactive actions.” That role depends on ASEAN continuing to maintain its position as a driving force for regional growth, reforming development models, and promoting innovation and the application of AI technology rapidly and equitably. FM Trung urged ASEAN to push stronger, more practical actions and more concrete results.
Appreciating the active participation of leaders, academics, businesses, and youth, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung stated that this demonstrates the strong commitment of all parties to the future of ASEAN.
“We are pleased to see that the forum, over the past three years, has become an increasingly important platform for all of us to promote joint efforts in building the ASEAN Community and strengthening ASEAN's relations with key international partners outside the region,” he said. The FM expressed confidence that the ideas and recommendations put forward at the forum will make practical contributions to ASEAN's policymaking.
