FIRST ASEAN FUTURE FORUM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister participated in the First ‘ASEAN Future Forum’.

First ASEAN Future Forum

• About: It serves as a vital platform for sharing innovative ideas and policy recommendations among ASEAN member states and their partners.
• Objective: To establish a unified platform where ASEAN member states, partner countries, and ASEAN citizens can collectively contribute to shaping the development trajectory of the ASEAN bloc.
• Proposed by: Vietnam during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023, the ASEAN Future Forum was envisioned to foster collaboration and dialogue within the ASEAN region.
• Theme of the Inaugural Forum: "Toward fast and sustainable growth of a people-centered ASEAN Community."
• Location: Hanoi, Vietnam.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• Established: In 1967, by the Bangkok Declaration.
• Type:  A political and economic union of 10 member statesin Southeast Asia.
• Members: Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
• Objective: It promotes inter-governmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration between its members and countries in the Asia-Pacific.
• Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.