Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon shared their warm sentiments towards the country and people of Vietnam, and expressed their optimism about ASEAN’s future while addressing the high-level plenary session of the second ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2025) in Hanoi on February 26.
PM Anwar of Malaysia - ASEAN Chair in 2025, reflected on his long-standing ties with Vietnam. He recalled his early visits to the country and his admiration for the famous sayings of President Ho Chi Minh during Vietnam’s struggles for national independence, expressing his strong support for the Vietnamese people’s spirit.
He said he has always wanted to visit Dien Bien Phu, the symbol of Vietnam’s guerrilla warfare, and congratulated the country on the 7% growth recorded last year. Vietnam has demonstrated incredible resilience in driving economic growth, ensuring security, and advancing industrialisation and modernisation while maintaining a unique foreign policy, he said, describing Vietnam as a powerful example of how a nation can rise from poverty to prosperity. The Malaysian PM acknowledged the current global geopolitical upheavals that ASEAN must navigate, stressing the potential risks these disruptions pose to the peace and prosperity of the region as well as the interests of its people.
Against this backdrop, he highlighted the need for ASEAN to emerge as a "beacon of hope," championing a sustainable, harmonious, and economically dynamic region.
He also welcomed the imminent accession of Timor-Leste as an official ASEAN member, emphasising that ASEAN must continue to strengthen its centrality and strategic autonomy and independence. However, he warned that ASEAN’s central role may be undermined if the organisation becomes fragmented. ASEAN is fortunate to be one of the safest and most peaceful regions, and the fastest-growing economy in the world today, he stated. Comparing ASEAN to other international organisations, he described it as unique for its candid and direct exchanges. The Prime Minister of Malaysia believed that ASEAN is superior than other international organisations with candid exchanges.
ASEAN member states are steadily progressing, and the group is eager to share this spirit with the international community, showcasing its solidarity. ASEAN is also poised to take the lead in areas like energy transition, digitalisation, clean energy, green infrastructure, and the creation of resilient and sustainable supply chains, he underscored.
The Malaysian leader also touched on the delicate task of balancing relations with major powers, including the US and China. Drawing from Vietnam’s approach, he suggested that ASEAN must forge its own path in handling ties with these two superpowers. He also hinted at the potential for an ASEAN-US summit in the near future.
Mentioning the theme of ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2025, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” PM Anwar noted that this theme has received strong endorsement from all ASEAN member states and marked a significant moment for both the region and the world.
He said he believes ASEAN is on the cusp of transformation and renewal, fully agreeing with PM Pham Minh Chinh’s description of ASEAN as a region of extraordinary vitality.
Meanwhile, in his speech, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon thanked his Vietnamese counterpart for inviting him to AFF 2025. He noted that PM Chinh was the first foreign leader to visit New Zealand since Luxon took office.
PM Luxon described AFF 2025 as a crucial platform for leaders, experts, and scholars from both within and outside the region to discuss current and future regional issues. He praised Vietnam for its excellent organisation of the forum and for extending a warm welcome to him and his delegation.
Luxon said it is a crucial opportunity for him to talk about key challenges in the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN’s significance to New Zealand in terms of trade, defence, development, and communities, as well as ASEAN-New Zealand relations in the near future.
Underscoring the importance of the Indo-Pacific in New Zealand’s foreign policy, he said the country shared many similarities with Southeast Asian nations. In an era of uncertainties, the PM recommended New Zealand and ASEAN member countries maintain a commitment to having common perceptions on regional security and collective efforts.
Acknowledging the bloc’s central role in both regional and global affairs, he affirmed New Zealand’s strong partnership with the bloc. He noted that ASEAN’s role will change and update to adapt to fluctuations in regional and global situations.
New Zealand fully supports the ASEAN Community Vision and recognises the strategic significance of Southeast Asia, Luxon stated, adding his country is committed to expanding engagements with the bloc and its member states.
He noted that trade serves as the lifeblood of ASEAN-New Zealand relations, with ASEAN being New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner.
The New Zealand Government vows to further expand economic integration and has set an ambitious goal of doubling trade with ASEAN in the near future, Luxon said, expressing hopes of attracting more ASEAN investors to New Zealand.
The PM pledged to strengthen ties with ASEAN, work closely with the bloc, and explore new opportunities for cooperation to uphold regional peace and prosperity. He said these efforts would bring significant benefits to both sides and the wider world.
Following the two speeches, the high-level plenary session featured discussions with the participation of Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, New Zealand PM Luxon, and Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta./.
