Hanoi, February 26 (IANS) – The high-level plenary session of the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Future Forum convened in Hanoi, featuring the participation of Vietnam Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta. The discussions centered on ASEAN’s future trajectory, strategic autonomy, economic sustainability, and regional cooperation.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh, addressing the forum, underscored the significance of strengthening ASEAN’s solidarity and central role in regional affairs. He emphasized the fundamental need to uphold the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all nations. Stressing the importance of peaceful conflict resolution, Chinh asserted, “Disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, without the threat or use of force. Whether these disputes pertain to territorial issues, religious matters, or ethnic concerns, they must be settled through negotiations and diplomacy to ensure regional stability, prevent conflict, and avert war.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his remarks, highlighted the geopolitical challenges facing the region, warning that disturbances in the global order could have significant ramifications for Southeast Asia’s peace and prosperity. He called for ASEAN to reinforce its centrality, strategic autonomy, and independence, ensuring that the bloc remains a key player in shaping regional stability.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the dual nature of the Indo-Pacific region as both a driver of global economic activity and a potential hotspot for geopolitical tension. “Military expansion and modernization are occurring at a scale not seen in this region for more than half a century,” he noted. Luxon further reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts between New Zealand and ASEAN to enhance prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific. In a social media post following his address, he stated, “It’s more important than ever that New Zealand works with ASEAN countries to find ways to support prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific. It was an honor to give a keynote address at the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn also participated in the opening session, reaffirming ASEAN’s steadfast commitment to cooperation, collaboration, dialogue, and diplomacy. He reiterated that ASEAN’s principles of transparency, openness, inclusiveness, and convergence-building remain essential in navigating an increasingly fragmented multipolar world.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 served as a crucial platform for leaders to deliberate on the evolving geopolitical landscape and reinforce ASEAN’s role as a stabilizing force in the region. With a collective commitment to peace, economic sustainability, and strategic autonomy, the discussions underscored the importance of unity and diplomacy in ensuring ASEAN’s continued growth and resilience in the face of global uncertainties.
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