The success of AFF 2026 is reflected not only in the scale and broad participation of stakeholders, but also in Vietnam’s increasingly proactive role in contributing ideas and guiding regional discussions.
As noted by Michelle Chan, Australia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this success speaks volumes to Vietnam’s crucial role in connecting regional leaders and experts to discuss a vision for ASEAN and the region.
Actively contribute to shaping the future of the region.
According to Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau (Director of the Institute of Politics and International Relations at the National Academy of Politics in Ho Chi Minh City), ASEAN has moved beyond the conventional approach of only discussing general security and economic issues to tackle issues specific, complex and highly interdisciplinary, such as artificial intelligence (AI) governance and Mekong sub-regional connectivity. In particular, Vietnam’s initiative to organize the Southeast Asian Political Parties Forum and the ASEAN City Leaders Conference 2026 has produced significant concrete results.
Through different channels of discussion, ranging from political parties (which address issues of social protection and inequalities) to local elected officials (who deal with transport, housing and climate change), including young people, ASEAN directly involves citizens in the development of political priorities, and no longer just in their implementation. This is a change radical: moving from a model where “policies are made for the people” to a model where “policies are made with the people”.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, director of the Diplomatic Academy, the forum brought practical and innovative ideas to help the region address emerging challenges and build a future of political stability, economic prosperity and a people-centered approach. the human. AFF 2026 has fully achieved its objective of creating an open platform connecting many actors.
On the sidelines of the multilateral forum, numerous bilateral events took place: meetings and talks between Vietnamese leaders and the heads of government of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Timor-Leste; meetings with international guests attending the forum, such as US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Australian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan and UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu… The presence of a large number of experts, academics, ASEAN partners and international friends demonstrated a high level of political trust and broad support for Vietnam’s multilateral initiative. It also highlighted a common concern for the future of the region, as well as an exchange of ideas and contributions aimed at shaping its development in this new era.
According to Secretary-General and President To Lam, peace, stability and sustainable development can only be fostered through solidarity, dialogue, trust-building and mutually beneficial cooperation. It is in this spirit that Vietnam initiated the ASEAN Future Forum, with the aim of creating a space for more open, constructive and forward-looking dialogue, thus contributing to complementing existing cooperation processes within ASEAN and promoting innovative thinking and joint action for the development of ASEAN. region.
In his opening speech at the forum, Prime Minister Lê Minh HÆ°ng affirmed that the presence of the delegates eloquently testified to the friendship, trust and solidarity which unite the region for lasting peace, renewed stability and sustainable development. The forum’s theme, “Building a Common Future Together: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centered Development,” reflects the core values that ASEAN pursues and defines the future direction of the Association.
“Over the past sixty years, ASEAN’s greatest achievement has been to demonstrate to the world that differences do not lead to division, that unity does not eliminate diversity, and that integration does not diminish identity. ASEAN’s greatest success in the decades to come will be to demonstrate that a united and resilient community can fully contribute positively to the establishment of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world,” the Prime Minister said.
According to the Prime Minister, Vietnam is firmly committed, in this path, to continue to stand alongside ASEAN with the aspiration of building the future, with all its heart and all its mind, because “the future of Vietnam is linked to the future of ASEAN as well as to peace, stability and common prosperity of the entire region.”
Foreign policy plays a pioneering role in protecting the homeland, from the beginning and from afar.
The messages delivered by Prime Minister Lê Minh HÆ°ng at the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2026) reflect Vietnam’s vision for the future of ASEAN and the evolution of its foreign policy. Through active participation in regional mechanisms, Vietnam is gradually taking the initiative to propose solutions and collaborate with its partners to shape major regional and global issues. This is the true spirit of its open foreign policy in this new phase of development.
Alongside its socio-economic development, Vietnam is implementing its foreign relations activities in a more concrete and effective manner, in close coherence with the country’s strategic objectives, while contributing more responsibly to peace, to cooperation and sustainable development in the region and in the world.
Vietnam pursues an independent, autonomous and strong foreign policy, focusing on peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralizing and diversifying its external relations, and acting as a responsible member of the international community. Attaching great importance to its relations with its neighbors, ASEAN, key partners and traditional allies, Vietnam promotes deeper, more stable, more reliable and more sustainable cooperation frameworks, and actively and responsibly participates in solving common regional and international problems.
Entering a new era of national development, Vietnam’s foreign policy testifies to an evolution of its thinking, clearly illustrated by its main ideological principles. It is defined as a “crucial and permanent” task, playing a pioneering role in the protection of the national territory, both in advance and remotely, and in the creation of an international environment favorable to the development of the country.
Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, dated May 19, 2026, relating to the implementation of the foreign policy guidelines of the 14th Party Congress, sets as the objective the development of foreign relations, in the new era, in in keeping with the historical, cultural and international status of the country. This resolution clearly sets out the guiding principles of its ideological orientation, affirming in particular that external relations and international integration are the concern of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire armed forces; “crucial and permanent”; that it is necessary to firmly defend the spirit of strategic autonomy and self-sufficiency; to guarantee national interests and to emphasize the importance of rigor in the implementation and effective respect of international commitments;
The resolution defines several major directions for the future, including promoting the pioneering role of foreign affairs in risk prevention and contributing to the early and remote protection of the Homeland; the expansion of new development spaces for the country; strengthening Vietnam’s responsibility and contribution to resolving common problems of the international community; enhancing the position of the nation through taking advantage of its cultural influence and Vietnamese resources abroad; and the establishment of a global, modern and professional diplomacy, up to the strategic challenges of the new era.
According to a representative of the Central Military Commission, defense diplomacy is one of the important pillars of Vietnam’s relations with other countries and international organizations; it is a proactive and effective method to protect the homeland early and from a distance; and it contributes significantly to the consolidation and maintenance of a peaceful environment, creating favorable conditions for national construction and development.
At the recent National Conference on the Study, Understanding and Implementation of Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, Secretary General and President To Lam stressed that external relations must develop measuring the status, position and cultural identity of the nation, thus contributing to affirming the image of an independent, autonomous, peaceful, cooperative and responsible Vietnam. The foundations of external relations are based on strategic autonomy and national self-sufficiency, guaranteeing the highest national interests, placing. the people at the heart of all policies and considering contribution to the international community as a responsibility. At the same time, external relations are the concern of the entire Party and the entire people, mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system and the country.
In an unstable global context, maintaining an independent and autonomous foreign policy, while actively contributing to multilateral mechanisms, will remain the foundation for strengthening the country’s position and its contribution to peace, stability and development in the region and in the world.
Source : https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/doi-ngoai-viet-nam-tu-tham-gia-den-chu-dong-kien-tao-tuong-lai-20260614095458849.htm
