The ASEAN People’s Forum (APF) 2020 came to an end on November 7 after sitting for three days, with two plenary sessions and 24 workshops being held to cover 11 different topics.

Running with the theme of “Southeast Asian People’s Solidarity for an Inclusive, Cohesive and Responsive Community”, the event offered participants the chance to exchange information and experiences, whilst striving to strengthen solidarity.

Furthermore, the occasion also served to help improve connectivity among various social movements and people’s organisations throughout ASEAN, a particularly useful benefit due to the need to come together in response to global challenges and build a people-focused ASEAN Community.

The outcomes of the plenary sessions and themed workshops will be included in reports published on the theme groups, which will later be added to the APF Joint Statement 2020.

During his address at the closing ceremony, Phan Anh Son, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), said that the forum ultimately proved to be a success, manifesting the inclusive, cohesive, and responsive spirit of Southeast Asian peoples.

Son, who also serves as head of the national committee for the APF 2020 organisation board, affirmed that organisations made up of Vietnamese people will continue contributing to the forum, as well as the enhancement of solidarity among the various peoples of Southeast Asian nations.

The APF is an annual event that is regularly held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit after first being initiated by Malaysia back in 2005.

The forum creates an open space for the engagement of different people’s organisations across ASEAN, raising the voice of the people to leaders of ASEAN countries, therefore building an ASEAN Community for the common interest of citizens.

Indeed, the occasion helps the bloc to strive for greater peace, development, equality, and sustainable development throughout the region.