ASEAN opportunities hinge on bloc's capacity, says Vietnam's President Tô Lâm

Vietnamese President Tô Lâm asserted that opportunities for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can only be transformed into tangible advantages if the bloc develops the necessary capacity to grasp them. He delivered these remarks while meeting with heads of delegations, experts, scholars, and representatives of international organizations attending the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026 in Hanoi.

Lâm welcomed attendees to the third AFF, noting the significant participation from leaders of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, alongside representatives from ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, and international organizations. He expressed satisfaction that the forum provided a platform for shared discussion on the region's future and the challenges confronting ASEAN in a new developmental phase. He echoed sentiments shared by attendees, emphasizing that ASEAN is entering a period requiring greater proactivity, effectiveness, and substance as it implements the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

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Opportunities only become advantages when ASEAN has the capacity to seize them.

"The world is entering a period of profound transition," Lâm stated, pointing to major crises in international order, development models, and strategic trust that are manifesting clearly within the ASEAN region. He specifically cited the intensifying strategic competition among major powers, which is expanding into critical future domains such as technology, data, supply chains, and new governance standards. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and quantum computing present immense development opportunities but also introduce significant new risks.

Furthermore, Lâm highlighted escalating challenges related to climate change, energy, water resources, aging populations, fake news, information manipulation, and human security. These issues directly impact social stability and the development capabilities of individual nations. He concluded that traditional development advantages are diminishing, and conventional approaches are no longer sufficient. The Vietnamese leader stressed the imperative for ASEAN to foster innovation, adaptability, and a readiness to embrace new development trends to effectively navigate these complex global dynamics.

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The world is entering a period of profound transition. The three major crises in international order, development models, and strategic trust we are witnessing are not happening far away, but are clearly manifesting in this very region.