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The third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF 2026) concluded in Hà Nội with the usual handshakes, smiles, and familiar declarations about “peace, prosperity, and a people-centered approach” in regional diplomacy.

Notably, the forum this year drew attention by placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the center of its agenda, which generated lively discussions among participating representatives.

Beyond reaffirming its hosting capabilities for the third consecutive year, Việt Nam engaged in a series of active sideline diplomacy and delivered several notable statements.

While the event was an undeniable success for Hà Nội, the continuous stream of activities by Vietnamese leaders at recent international forums leads observers to ask: behind these displays of diplomacy, what political calculations is Việt Nam actually pursuing?

Hà Nội Continues to Assert Its Role Within ASEAN

The ASEAN Future Forum 2026 convened under the theme, “Shaping Our Shared Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and People-Centered Development,” drawing senior leaders from ASEAN member states, international organizations, research institutes, and businesses. [1]

On the afternoon of June 9, National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn met with Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, who was visiting Việt Nam to attend AFF 2026, and subsequently met with leaders from various ASEAN cities. [2]

Simultaneously, General Secretary and President Tô Lâm held separate receptions for Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. [3]

From a foreign policy perspective, the AFF serves as a tool to help Việt Nam maintain its image as a highly proactive ASEAN member. Following years of hosting multilateral forums, Hà Nội is actively building its position as a capable intermediary in an increasingly polarized regional order.

Vietnamese and ASEAN leaders attend the event. Photo: VGP News.

AI as a Central Theme?

State media coverage of AFF 2026 heavily emphasized artificial intelligence. During the forum’s third plenary session on promoting AI adoption in ASEAN, discussions highlighted its growing application across healthcare, agriculture, education, finance, and public services. Importantly, the session acknowledged the significant disparities among member states regarding digital infrastructure and technological access. [4]

While such candor is rare in ASEAN diplomacy, the reality is undeniable. Singapore is heavily investing in AI infrastructure, and countries like Malaysia and Thailand are advancing their technology strategies. Meanwhile, many other regional economies struggle with fundamental limitations in human resources and digital infrastructure.

Despite these recognized disparities, most discussions lingered on broad principles. Frequent mentions of “inclusive AI,” “leaving no one behind,” and “responsible development” lacked concrete commitments to coordination mechanisms, resource allocation, or implementation responsibilities.

Highlighting this issue, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun noted in a virtual address that the primary challenge of the AI era is not just the pace of technological development but ensuring equitable access and benefits for all segments of society. [5] His statement echoes the ongoing global debate on whether AI will mitigate or exacerbate existing inequalities.

Reinforcing this, Dr. Mehdi Snene, senior adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, observed that AI adoption in ASEAN is happening at vastly different levels. He noted that a singular AI vision is impossible given the myriad forms of AI across various sectors. [6] As a result, the prospect of a unified bloc strategy remains distant, leaving each country largely on its own.

Offering a more ambitious perspective during the opening session, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng declared that the future belongs to innovating economies, not just manufacturing ones. He asserted that ASEAN must evolve from a consumer of technology into a creator and from a mere conduit for supply chains into a region that actively shapes value chains. [7]

Although this proposal represents a strong and correct directional goal, the fact remains that while ASEAN agrees on the importance of AI, the bloc is far from a consensus on its development and governance.

The Geopolitics of Technology

A broader narrative was largely absent from the coverage of AFF 2026: Southeast Asian governments are managing a complex situation as geopolitical competition increasingly shapes the region’s technological future.

With Washington tightening export controls on semiconductors and AI technologies, and China expanding its influence via digital infrastructure investments, Southeast Asian nations face mounting pressure to navigate between two competing technological ecosystems. While no government openly chooses a side, they quietly maintain relationships with both powers, indicating a lack of true neutrality. [8] [9]

Việt Nam provides perhaps the clearest example of this dynamic. While actively seeking semiconductor and high-tech investments from the United States, Japan, and their allies, it continues to rely on telecommunications infrastructure built by Huawei and other Chinese firms. [10] [11] These technological streams bring more than just competing technical standards; they introduce different approaches to security, surveillance, and data control.

This balancing strategy is frequently labeled as “multilateralization” or “diversification.” However, in the technology sector, avoiding a definitive choice does not equate to remaining outside the competition. Technical standards, digital infrastructure, and data regulations all carry distinct political implications, meaning that adopting a specific technology inherently involves adopting part of its broader power ecosystem.

Addressing the forum, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng indirectly acknowledged this pressure, calling for the development of “a technological and digital ecosystem with an ASEAN identity, one that reflects our own values while contributing positively to the formation of global standards.” [12]

In this context, an “ASEAN identity” represents a desire to avoid the imposition of standards from either Washington or Beijing—a noteworthy ambition reflecting a drive for strategic autonomy. Nevertheless, a considerable gap remains between this desire for technological independence and the practical ability to achieve it, as most ASEAN countries remain dependent on foreign investment and infrastructure.

Diplomatic Success, Yet Questions Remain

From the point of view of organizing events and building the country's image, AFF 2026 is a clear success for Vietnam. Hà Nội once again demonstrated its capacity to convene leaders, scholars, and businesses in a regional forum of growing scale.

However, the true value of such forums lies not in the volume of speeches delivered or declarations issued, but in the region's ability to translate those ideas into concrete policies.

The major questions raised throughout AFF 2026 remain unanswered: How exactly will ASEAN govern AI? To what extent can the region maintain its strategic autonomy amid fierce technological competition between major powers? Furthermore, is ASEAN centrality a practical capability, or does it remain primarily a political aspiration?

These are the issues that will continue to shape the future of Southeast Asia long after any single forum concludes.

Thiên Di wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on June 18, 2026. Đàm Vĩnh Hằng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.

References: +

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