The forum was first announced by the Vietnamese Government at the ASEAN Summit in 2023 as an initiative designed to complement ASEAN’s official mechanisms and strengthen regional dialogue.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong, the first two editions of the forum in 2024 and 2025 were successful, attracting broad support from ASEAN countries and international partners while gradually establishing AFF as an open, forward-looking platform.

The outcomes of previous forums were later incorporated into ASEAN Summit documents in the same year.

Held under the theme “Shaping Our Shared Future: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centered Development,” AFF 2026 will feature participation and speeches from senior Vietnamese Party and State leaders, high-ranking officials from ASEAN member countries, international organizations, research institutes, businesses and local authorities from Vietnam and abroad.

Three ASEAN prime ministers are expected to attend the forum.

Deputy Minister Cuong noted that this year’s forum would have broader representation, including delegates from more than 10 political parties across the region to discuss policy issues. Around 20 ASEAN city leaders are also expected to participate.

Official activities of AFF 2026 will take place in Hanoi from June 9-10.

Ahead of the main sessions, a series of side events will be held on June 8, including dialogues among Southeast Asian political parties, a conference of ASEAN city leaders, a Mekong sub-region roundtable, a Southeast Asian youth dialogue and a discussion on AI governance.

The forum will officially open on the morning of June 9 at the Melia Hanoi Hotel with the participation of senior Vietnamese leaders and high-ranking representatives from ASEAN countries.

Plenary sessions on the opening day will focus on ASEAN resilience and solidarity, promoting ASEAN-led conflict prevention initiatives and the application of AI across the region. A working lunch discussion on financial technology is also scheduled.

On June 10, leaders and delegates will attend plenary discussions on energy security and development models, alongside several thematic sessions, before the forum closes later that afternoon.

AFF 2026 will mark the first major high-level multilateral diplomatic event hosted by Vietnam following the successful conclusion of the 14th National Party Congress, the election of the 16th National Assembly and the appointment of key Party and State leadership positions.

Nguyen Hung Son, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said organizers hoped this year’s forum would generate practical policy recommendations to strengthen ASEAN’s adaptability toward the ASEAN Vision 2045 agenda.

He described the forum as an increasingly credible dialogue platform contributing to peace and stability not only in Southeast Asia but also across the broader Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

“The diversity of participants is one of the defining features we want to emphasize,” Son said, noting that businesses, young people and civil society organizations all have an important role in building an inclusive ASEAN community.

He added that the forum would address pressing issues such as ensuring no one is left behind in AI cooperation, strengthening energy security amid volatile supply conditions and promoting sustainable development that benefits all citizens.

Tran Thuong