(MPI) - The ASEAN Future Forum 2024, themed “Toward Fast and Sustainable Growth of a People-Centered ASEAN Community”, was kicked off in Hanoi on April 23. The event drew the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and nearly 500 Governmental officials, Ambassadors, academia, business communities, and delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, ASEAN’s partners and international organisations.

At the event. Photo: MPI

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said ASEAN has been the catalyst for dialogue, cooperation and development, and been at the heart of numerous initiatives to bolster regional connectivity; it is also the epicenter of fierce strategic competition. ASEAN centrality is widely acknowledged, however, its role has not proven to be substantive in certain areas.

For almost three decades since its accession to ASEAN, Vietnam always considers the ASEAN as one of top foreign policy priorities, and done its utmost to help create a united and strong ASEAN Community with an ever-greater role and influence in the region and the world.

Vietnam’s path of development in its reform and integration process has been closely intertwined with ASEAN, having recorded important achievements.

Vietnam’s successes underscore the accurate and strategic nature of the guidelines and policies of the Party and State of Vietnam in the building of three foundational factors, including socialist democracy, socialist law-governed state, and socialist-oriented market economy; and implementing six priorities. The country’s viewpoint is to put people as the center, subject, goal, resource and driving force of development without sacrificing social progress, justice, and the environment to pursue pure economic growth.

ASEAN has outlined its goals toward 2045, with an aspiration for a dynamic, united, and resilient community. To realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, Prime Minister Chinh outlined five enhancements.

Firstly, enhancement of cooperation and unity in diversity, while upholding ASEAN’s spirit of independence, resilience, and strategic self-reliance.

Secondly, enhancement of strategic trust within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners, preventing conflicts and maintain peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Thirdly, enhancement of digital transformation and green growth, while also expediting innovation and startup, so as to foster new and sustainable drivers for ASEAN’s growth going forward.

Fourthly, enhancement of harmonious, sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered development, with the people being at the heart, the actor, the driver, the resource, and the goal of development without sacrificing social progress and equality and the environment for mere economic gains.

Fifthly, enhancement of efforts to mobilise all social resources, particularly public-private partnership, seeking strategic breakthroughs in terms of institutions, human resources, infrastructures, and national governance, with a view to fostering rapid and sustainable development for ASEAN.

Viet Nam will continue joining hands with ASEAN member states and partners to pen new chapters of greater successes, thereby paving the way for a new future for an ASEAN Community of dynamism, resilience, solidarity and unity in diversity, making contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, Prime Minister Chinh noted.

The AFF 2024 was an important initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit last September. Within the framework of the forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired a business roundtable towards a cohesive, resilient and sustainable ASEAN business community: Seizing opportunities in the digital age. The second plenary, organised on the same day, was ensuring comprehensive security for a people-centered ASEAN community.

Previously, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn hold a dialogue with ASEAN youth on April 22, on the sidelines of the AFF 2024./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment