HANOI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Tuesday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a greater role in shaping global norms, and move beyond participating in global trends to helping define them.
Addressing the opening session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, Hung said ASEAN should become a center for dialogue, a focal point for cooperation and an anchor of trust amid growing global fragmentation and competition.
He urged the bloc to evolve from a manufacturing hub into an innovation hub, saying ASEAN should become not only a consumer of technology but also a creator of it. He called for heavy investment in science and technology, innovation, digital economy, and high-quality human resources to build an ASEAN-centered technology and digital ecosystem that reflects regional values and contributes to the shaping of global standards.
Hung said ASEAN's success should be measured by the opportunities it creates for young people, the role it gives to women, the protection it provides for vulnerable groups and the extent to which its citizens feel a sense of belonging to the community. ■