The ASEAN Future Forum 2026 (ASEAN Future Forum - AFF) will take place on June 9 and 10 in Hanoi, with the theme "Shaping a common future: Peace, Prosperity and Development with the people at the center".
Answering an interview about the reason for choosing the theme of the forum, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong emphasized: "This year's theme accurately reflects the core priorities that ASEAN and the region are pursuing. Peace is a prerequisite for development; prosperity is the common goal of all member states; and putting people at the center is the consistent spirit of the ASEAN Community".
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs added that the future of the region cannot be shaped without the participation of the people themselves - who are both the subjects and beneficiaries of the cooperation process. Therefore, this year's forum is designed as an open and broad dialogue space, where not only leaders, but also scholars, businesses, youth, social organizations and representatives of political parties and localities contribute their voices.
Before the question, how the message about ASEAN's central role just emphasized by the General Secretary and President at the Shangri-La Dialogue, AFF 2026 continues that spirit, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong pointed out: At the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam delivered a keynote speech, in which emphasized the necessity of creating an open, inclusive regional structure and taking ASEAN as the center. The Head of our Party and State also noted that ASEAN's central role is not a matter of course, but needs to be strengthened by solidarity, strategic autonomy and capacity to create a common agenda.
AFF 2026 is the continuation and concretization of that spirit at the regional dialogue level. The Forum is a place where ASEAN and its partners discuss how to maintain the bloc's position in a volatile strategic environment - so that all initiatives and new mechanisms complement each other and do not weaken ASEAN's central role" - Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong affirmed.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam further shared that Vietnam's initiation and persistent organization of a forum like AFF, along with proactive and responsible participation in regional and international mechanisms, clearly demonstrates the spirit of an active and responsible member. That is also how Vietnam makes practical contributions to peace, stability and common development of the region.
