In an interview with the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Future Forum (AFF), scheduled to take place in Hanoi on June 9–10, Ambassador Bird said Vietnam is a key partner of Australia and an important country in the region and Australia is pleased to have supported the Forum since its inception in 2024,
She emphasized that Australia is delighted to see Vietnam taking on greater leadership responsibilities, and the ASEAN Future Forum is a clear demonstration of that leadership, which is particularly significant for Australia, as both countries strongly support multilateralism, the United Nations, and a rules-based international order, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Commenting on ASEAN’s role in promoting peace and stability amid the current increasingly complex international environment, Ambassador Bird said ASEAN plays a central role in the region’s peace, security, and prosperity. She noted that ASEAN has maintained this pivotal role since its establishment nearly six decades ago.
Amid the growing strategic competition and complexity around the world, ASEAN’s centrality is more important than ever, she said, adding that ASEAN, with its 11 member states and key partners, has become a platform for dialogue and consensus-based solutions to regional and global challenges.
From June 9–10, Hanoi will welcome more than 500 delegates to the third ASEAN Future Forum under the theme: “Shaping Our Common Future: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centred Development.” The event is the first major high-level multilateral diplomatic forum hosted by Vietnam in 2026.
The ASEAN Future Forum is a Vietnamese initiative first announced at the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia. By hosting the Forum and actively participating in regional and global mechanisms, Vietnam continues to demonstrate its role as a proactive and responsible ASEAN member, making meaningful contributions to regional peace, stability, and sustainable development.
