Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has shed light on the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025 and the prospects of Vietnam – Malaysia relations within ASEAN in his recent interview granted to the press.
Ibrahim said the AFF is more than just a platform for advice and recommendations, it reinforces ASEAN’s common priorities through many practical proposals.
What sets this forum apart, he noted, is its "future-shaping factor”. This means the impact of current geopolitical landscape on both ASEAN and each member state must be understood as whatever happens outside the region will inevitably ripple into ASEAN. These pressing issues, he observed, were at the heart of discussions during the forum.
Vietnam, with its rapid economic growth and proactive foreign policy, plays a key role in ensuring the success of ASEAN’s action plan, he said, adding that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has shown strong support and cooperation with Malaysia to ensure the success of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
On key regional initiatives such as ASEAN’s power grid, digitalisation, and food security, he reaffirmed Vietnam’s central role in driving these efforts forward.
Turning to Vietnam-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership, he spotlighted the goal of fostering intra-ASEAN trade and investment, with a strong focus on Malaysia-Vietnam relations.
Reflecting on his discussions with PM Chinh, he said numerous specific issues had been addressed, such as the realisation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Renewable Energy between the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the Malaysian national oil and gas group Petronas, the ASEAN power grid, Halal food industry, artificial intelligence, semiconductor agreements, education-training, national defence-security, and cybersecurity./.
