The second ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2025),  themed “Building a United, Inclusive, and Resilient ASEAN amidst Global Transformations",  opened in Hanoi on February 25, with emphasis on intra-group solidarity to effectively respond to challenges.

Attending the opening session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined three strategic priorities and three breakthrough actions to enhance ASEAN’s unity, resilience, and global integration.

First, Prime Minister Chinh underscored the importance of reinforcing ASEAN’s strategic self-control by strengthening the bloc's solidarity and centrality. An ASEAN with strategic self-control must be consensus-driven, cohesive, balanced and flexible in its external relations. The bloc should play an active role in shaping the regional order and fostering international cooperation amid growing global uncertainties.

Second, he stressed the need to build an economically resilient ASEAN. The region must revitalise traditional growth drivers while simultaneously fostering new ones, particularly in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. ASEAN should take the lead in advancing the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, and renewable energy, while integrating deeper into global supply chains to become a strategic manufacturing hub.

Third, the Prime Minister highlighted the necessity of preserving ASEAN’s core values and identity. The ASEAN spirit - characterized by consensus, harmony, unity in diversity, and respect for differences - must not only be upheld but also actively promoted as guiding principles in international relations.

To translate these strategic priorities into action, the Vietnamese government leader proposed three breakthrough measures.

First, ASEAN must establish a more flexible, effective, and responsible decision-making mechanism while maintaining the consensus principle. This approach should include specific mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of strategic initiatives.

Second, he called for greater public-private cooperation to mobilise all available resources for regional development, particularly in key infrastructure projects. Encouraging the increased participation of the private sector in total social investment, further eliminating trade barriers, and developing a smart, secure, and digital economic environment will be essential to strengthening ASEAN’s trade and investment landscape.

Third, the PM emphasized the need to enhance ASEAN connectivity, particularly in infrastructure connectivity, people-to-people exchanges, and institutional harmonization. Streamlining decision-making processes and simplifying administrative procedures will be crucial in facilitating more effective regional cooperation.

In the opening remarks at the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasized that this year marks a significant milestone for ASEAN, as it completes the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and is about to adopt the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, over the last six decades, ASEAN has undergone profound transformations to become a dynamic Community of 10 member states with over 650 million people and the world’s fifth largest economy. ASEAN has also established itself as the gravity of economic and security architectures in the Indo-Pacific.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Son also expressed concern over the rapid developments in global geopolitical landscape over the past few weeks. "These high-stake events suggest the world is at a critical juncture, raising numerous unanswered questions about the future interactions among major powers and the post-World War II international system, particularly the roles and functions of the UN Charter and international law," he noted.

In this context, it's crucial for regional organizations like ASEAN to demonstrate their relevance and agency in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of established rules and norms. It’s also crucial for ASEAN to maintain its unity, resilience and inclusiveness in face of new unfolding realities, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

Attending the opening session also were President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta, Head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn along with leaders from ASEAN countries, ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses.

In their speeches, leaders of countries and international organisations emphasised ASEAN’s cooperation, solidarity, inclusivity, and resilience amid global uncertainties and significant transformations.

As an observer country on the path to become a full member of ASEAN, Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta emphasized the need for the group to enhance preventive diplomacy amid growing complexities to effectively prevent escalating conflicts and address issues such as those related to the East Sea and Myanmar, towards a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Southeast Asia region.

ASEAN’s development has been truly remarkable, President Jose Ramos Horta said, noting that overcoming poverty, political instability, and other challenges, the group has emerged as a stable and dynamic economy that plays an important role in the international arena.

Reflecting on ASEAN’s journey since its establishment with many ups and downs, he said the bloc’s crucial role has been affirmed through solidarity and cohesion. Its institutions have been built to ensure institutional strength, a shared foundation, a common vision, unified principles, and the ability to anticipate and adapt, he added.

In her message to the forum, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stressed that self-resilient ASEAN is an extremely important factor to deal with new challenges, aiming for sustainable and inclusive growth.

According to the Thai Prime Minister, ASEAN must seize all opportunities to bring about positive changes for its people and the region. The bloc should take concrete steps toward deeper economic development, digital transformation, and green transition; while responding to climate change, economic disruptions, and social volatility.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith praised the theme of this year’s AFF is highly relevant and timely as the world faces multidimensional opportunities and challenges arising from significant global transformations and rapid geopolitical and economic transitions that weaken multilateralism and hinder sustainable growth. He noted that these ongoing and future trends require ASEAN to respond effectively and innovatively to secure a stable future.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn expressed his hope that the forum would provide solutions to the bloc’s pressing challenges, from geopolitical crises and emerging technologies to climate change. Amid intensifying competition among powers, he recommended ASEAN to uphold its commitments to cooperation, maintain its central role, and capitalise on diplomacy and soft power in international partnerships.

Referring to the connection between Europe and Southeast Asia, President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen, in her message to the forum, stressed that despite geographical distance, the two regions share many similarities and believe in openness, free and fair trade, and effective partnerships that drive development and prosperity.

On the morning of February 26, as part of the ASEAN Future Forum 2025, the high-level plenary session took place with the participation of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta.

In his keynote speech at the high-level plenary session, ASEAN Chair 2025, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, emphasized that Vietnam is an admirable success story of development, a testament to the journey of rising from poverty to become a modern and advanced nation with the potential for further economic growth.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that ASEAN is an outstanding organization with extraordinary vitality. ASEAN is not a bystander but a dynamic force in global processes. According to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the world and regional situation is witnessing profound changes, bringing both opportunities and challenges to ASEAN. In that context, it is even more necessary to build a united, inclusive and self-reliant ASEAN.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highly appreciated the achievements that ASEAN has made; emphasized that New Zealand attaches importance to the relationship with ASEAN, appreciates ASEAN's central role, and supports the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon affirmed that New Zealand is committed to expanding and strengthening relations with ASEAN in general and ASEAN member countries in particular.

Speaking at the plenary session, Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the importance of self-reliance, self-strengthening, and strategic autonomy for all countries and organizations in the world, including Vietnam and ASEAN.