Delegates take a group photo at the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Future Forum 2026. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Deputy Minister, "resilience" is a prominent keyword of this year's Forum. How do you envision this concept?

We are in a rapidly changing, unpredictable world filled with many paradoxes.

General Secretary, President To Lam made a profound observation at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, stating that this is a period where “broader connectivity leads to greater vulnerability; technological advancements come with higher risks of misuse; deeper interdependence can easily be turned into a tool for coercion.”

Party Central Committee Member, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ministry's Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong speaks at Session I of the Forum. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

In this context, resilience becomes a very urgent requirement for countries in our region. However, I want to emphasize one thing: resilience does not mean isolation, nor does it mean self-reliance. For medium and small countries, and for ASEAN as a whole, true resilience can only be sustainably reinforced through cooperation.

Why does resilience need to be linked with cooperation, Deputy Minister?

Because a nation that isolates itself does not become safer; on the contrary, it becomes more easily overlooked and pressured.

True strength comes from becoming an indispensable link in multiple cooperative networks. In such a scenario, no party can easily exert unilateral pressure.

When countries connect, share resources, link infrastructure, and coordinate policies, each nation becomes stronger, and the entire community strengthens.

In other words: a resilient ASEAN is one that knows how to turn connectivity into its own strength.

How is the spirit of resilience manifested at this Forum, Deputy Minister?

What I appreciate about this Forum is that resilience is not just a matter for governments. It involves the participation of businesses, localities, the youth, and this year, even political parties.

Therefore, this year's Forum opens up many new dialogue spaces, allowing voices from various sectors to be heard.

Ultimately, all efforts aim towards one goal: placing people at the center, so that regional cooperation brings tangible benefits to their lives.

Party Central Committee Member, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ministry's Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong reviews publications of the World and Vietnam newspaper at the ASEAN Future Forum. (Photo: Phan Linh)

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!