ASEAN 2045: A path full of opportunities and challenges – Special Offers | Publications

Written by Moises Pérez Mock

Chief correspondent in Vietnam

The issue was widely discussed at the first ASEAN Future Forum, an initiative promoted by Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, which brought together here this week some 500 participants from the bloc's 11 member states, dialogue partners and other guests.

Building a fast-growing, sustainable, people-centred ASEAN community was the theme chosen by organizers to guide discussions and begin planning for the future, something that, according to Minh Chin himself, “has never become more urgent.”

In his speech at the meeting, the Vietnamese Prime Minister alluded to what he considered to be three strategic trends that are recognizable today: increasingly fierce competition and decoupling between great powers, accelerating development of new technologies and digital transformation, and sustainable, inclusive and green growth.

In this context, he stressed that ASEAN has never been in a better position, but it has never faced as many challenges as it does today.

Minh Chinh pointed out that although the regional entity constitutes the fifth largest economic bloc in the world, the difference in development levels among its members remains significant and the level of cooperation and communication within it is still limited.

In order to achieve the goal of building a dynamic, cohesive and resilient society by 2045, it is necessary to intensify solidarity, cooperation and unity in diversity, and uphold the spirit of independence, flexibility and strategic self-determination of ASEAN. He insisted on.

On the other hand, in a symposium with companies of the Group countries that he co-chaired with his Laotian counterpart Soneksay Siphandon, the Vietnamese Prime Minister urged to ensure equal access to transformation and the digital economy on the principle of “harmonious benefits and shared risks.”

He considered that to achieve this, transparency, security, inclusion and sustainability must be ensured, so that all people, companies and communities participate and enjoy the results.

Empowering youth

In the context of the ASEAN Future Forum, the bloc's Secretary-General, Kaw Kim Horn, met with youth representatives from the region, to whom he reaffirmed the commitment of the group's leaders to empowering youth to improve their potential.

Four years ago, in 2020, the region's youth population reached 224.2 million people, representing about 34 percent of the region's total population, which is estimated at more than 600 million, Horn said.

He further stressed that the proportion of youth in Southeast Asia is expected to reach its highest level in 2038, indicating the enormous potential of this demographic segment to shape the socio-economic landscape and continued growth of ASEAN, whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ) by 4.7 percent in 2023.

This year, thanks to strong domestic consumption, net exports and an accelerating recovery in services, regional GDP is expected to grow by five percent and intra-regional trade to exceed $860 billion.

Priority to Vietnam

Since joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995, Vietnam has regarded the group as one of its top priorities in the areas of foreign policy, defense and economic security, and has made every effort to help build a united and strong community with an increasingly important role and status in the region and in the world. world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed at the forum that Vietnam's development path in the process of innovation and integration is always linked to ASEAN, and noted that his country places citizens and considers them the center, subject, goal and engine of the main source of development.

He also pointed out the six approaches adopted by this Indochina state, including the foreign policy of independence, self-determination, multilateralism, diversification of relations with other countries, and being a reliable friend and partner and an active and responsible member of the international community for peace. Peace and development. Regarding defense policy, he explained that it can be summarized in the “four no’s”: not participating in military alliances, not linking with one country to fight another, not allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use their lands for fighting. Against third parties, and not to use force or threaten to use it in international relations.

For his part, at the conclusion of the event, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stated that in the face of the challenges it faces, ASEAN has set its own roadmap to effectively address strategic issues and develop a global community where everyone is included. States, regardless of their size or location, are respected and cooperate on equal terms.

The convergence of views revealed at this forum is the foundation on which ASEAN is building to transform vision into action, he said, adding that the policy recommendations presented will play a practical role in putting people at the center of all action.

arc/mpm