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AusCham Delegation Joins High-Level Dialogues at ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in Hanoi

HANOI, VIETNAM – June 10, 2026 — Representatives from the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham) attended the prestigious ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026, held in Hanoi from June 9 to 10. Representing the Chamber at this key regional event were Mr. David Whitehead, Member of the Board of Directors, and Ms. Huong Tran, Head of Advocacy & Partnerships.

Now in its third edition, the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 convened over 600 delegates under the theme “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and People-Centred.” Initiated by Vietnam, the forum has quickly become a premier multilateral platform for forward-looking policy discussion, bridging official government frameworks with the international business community, academic minds, and regional stakeholders.

The opening ceremony on June 9 featured a keynote address by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. In attendance were the Prime Ministers of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, alongside ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

In his powerful opening speech, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized that the global landscape is experiencing fundamental shifts where traditional rules are being completely rewritten.

"Technology is redefining competitiveness. Artificial intelligence is redefining productivity. Data is redefining power. And green transition is redefining development models," Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stated.

The Prime Minister pointed out that in such a pivotal era, advantages belong not just to countries with massive resources, but to regions capable of actively participating in shaping the new norms of the times. Looking ahead toward the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, he urged the bloc to aspire to three strategic dimensions:

  1. Shaping Global Trends: ASEAN must not merely participate in global trends but actively contribute to shaping them.

  2. An Innovation Hub: ASEAN needs to evolve from being just a manufacturing hub into a center for innovation and creativity.

  3. A People-Centred Community: Moving beyond a community of nations to become a true community of and for the people.

The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming Vietnam’s unwavering commitment to the bloc, stating that Vietnam’s own future is permanently intertwined with the peace, stability, and collective prosperity of ASEAN.

As active participants in the audience, the AusCham delegation engaged with these critical themes throughout the two-day forum. The discussions surrounding artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate-smart development, and energy security are highly relevant to the Australian-Vietnamese business community.

By joining these top-tier regional dialogues, AusCham continues to ensure its leadership remains deeply informed on regional policy trajectories. This presence allows the Chamber to better support its members, align corporate initiatives with regional goals, and continue fostering strong trade, investment, and sustainable partnerships between Australia, Vietnam, and the wider ASEAN marketplace.