ASEAN Future Forum 2025: Leaders discuss geo-political challenges
The forum focused on ASEAN’s future, strategic autonomy, economic sustainability, and regional cooperation.
- HANOI — The
high-level plenary session of the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Future Forum at Hanoi on Wednesday saw 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 forum focused on ASEAN’s future, strategic autonomy,
economic sustainability, and regional cooperation.
-
- Addressing the forum, Vietnam PM Chin underscored the importance
of strengthening ASEAN’s solidarity and centrality. Chinh further emphasised
that nations must respect their independence, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity.
-
- “Disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, without
threatening or using force to settle disputes. These disputes can involve
territorial issues, religious matters or ethnic concerns -- they must be
resolved through peaceful negotiations and diplomacy to ensure stability,
prevent conflict and avoid war,” he further said.
-
- Meanwhile, the Malaysian PM during the discussions warned of
disturbances in the geo-political order, adding that it could have serious
implications for peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
-
- He emphasised that ASEAN must continue to strengthen its
centrality, strategic autonomy and independence.
-
- Speaking at the plenary sessions, New Zealand PM Luxon
called for prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific.
-
- “The Indo-Pacific is simultaneously the engine room of
global economic activity and a potential hotspot for geo-political tension.
Military expansion and modernisation are occurring at a scale not seen in this
region for more than half a century,” he said.
-
- PM Luxon wrote on his social media post: “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 honour to give a
keynote address at the ASEAN Future Forum in Ha Noi.”
-
- Attending the Opening Session of the Second ASEAN Future
Forum, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn underscored ASEAN’s
enduring commitment to cooperation and collaboration, dialogue and diplomacy.
-
