Themed “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centered,” the forum saw the attendance of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
In his opening address, Prime Minister Hung predicted that the coming decades will be a journey to shape the future of ASEAN amid profound global changes. Technology is redefining competitiveness, artificial intelligence is transforming productivity, data is reshaping power, and green transition is creating new development models. ASEAN must become an active player in this process, PM Hung said, stressing the need to realize this aspiration.
“ASEAN should continue upholding the values that have underpinned its success - solidarity, resilience and unity in diversity, while embracing greater innovation in both thinking and action. The bloc should remain firm in its principles while becoming more agile in its responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.”
To achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the Prime Minister proposed that ASEAN move towards three strategic dimensions.
First, ASEAN not only participates in global trends but must help shape those trends. “ASEAN should serve as a center for dialogue, a hub for cooperation and an anchor of trust. This is ASEAN's special contribution to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.”
Second, according to Prime Minister Hung, ASEAN must move beyond its role as a manufacturing hub and become a center of innovation. “ASEAN should strive to become a place where technology is developed, not merely consumed, and where value chains are created rather than simply passed through. This requires stronger investment in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources, as well as efforts to build a distinctive ASEAN digital and technology ecosystem that contributes to global standards-setting.”
Third, ASEAN must become not only a community of nations but a genuine community of people. A successful ASEAN is not only measured by the size of GDP but also by the opportunities created for the young generation, the role for women, the protection of vulnerable groups and the ability for each citizen to feel that ASEAN is truly their community.
Vietnam's future is closely tied to the future of ASEAN, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said, adding that Vietnam will continue to work with other ASEAN countries with the desire to shape the future, contributing to a region of peace, stability and prosperity.
