Vietnam pledges to work alongside ASEAN in shaping the future: PM Hung

The affirmation was made by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung at the opening session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 which took place in Hanoi on June 9.

The Vietnamese Government leader said the forum carries special significance, with its theme reflecting the core values ASEAN is pursuing and the direction it is taking in the years ahead.

“I would like to begin with a familiar question about the future. In a world undergoing profound change, the question facing us today is not only how ASEAN will adapt, but how it will shape its own future in the 21st century,” PM Hung emphasized

According to the PM, after 59 years of development, ASEAN’s most significant achievement lies not only in its population of nearly 700 million people or its position as one of the world’s most dynamic growth centres, but in its efforts to rise above differences, build trust and expand cooperation to become a community that is united, resilient and unified in diversity.

If the past six decades have been a journey of building ASEAN’s identity, the decades ahead will be a journey of shaping its future in a world where the fundamental rules governing the economy, technology and global power are being rewritten.

Technology is redefining competitiveness. Artificial intelligence is redefining productivity. Data is redefining power. And the green transition is redefining development models, he added.

“At such a pivotal moment, the advantage belongs not only to countries with substantial resources, but also to those with the ability to help shape the new rules and standards of the age. Vietnam believes ASEAN needs to, and must, become an active participant in that process, not merely a recipient of global trends, but a driver helping shape them,” Hung said.

As ASEAN works towards the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, he stated that the bloc should strive for three strategic aspirations. First, it should not only participate in global trends but also help shape them.

Second, it should not only serve as a manufacturing hub but also become a centre of innovation. Third, it should not only be a community of nations but also a genuine community of people.

“Vietnam strongly reaffirms its commitment to continuing to work alongside ASEAN with the aspiration of shaping the future, with all our hearts and minds, because Vietnam’s future is closely linked to ASEAN’s future, as well as to the peace, stability and common prosperity of the region,” PM Hung stressed.

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