Jakarta, 10 March 2025: ERIA had the honour of participating in the 30th Anniversary of Viet Nam’s ASEAN Membership, held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The event featured a keynote policy address by H.E. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, reaffirming Viet Nam’s commitment to regional cooperation and ASEAN’s resilience.

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe and Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean of the ERIA School of Government, were invited to this significant occasion. Prof. Aizawa delivered remarks reflecting on the General Secretary’s speech, emphasising ASEAN’s need for resilience and unity in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

H.E. Tô Lâm’s Vision for ASEAN

In his address, H.E. Tô Lâm highlighted Viet Nam’s transformative role in ASEAN and key global trends shaping the region’s future, including:

• The shift toward a multipolar world
• Technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and blockchain
• Rising non-traditional security threats, including climate change and cybersecurity

He urged ASEAN to enhance strategic self-reliance, strengthen economic resilience, and uphold its identity and values in response to these challenges. Stressing ASEAN’s role as a pillar of stability, he called for stronger regional cooperation, innovation, and pragmatic policymaking to ensure sustainable growth and unity amid intensifying geopolitical competition.

Prof. Aizawa’s Reflections on ASEAN’s Future

Prof. Aizawa echoed these themes, stressing that ASEAN now stands at a crossroads between division under major powers or unity through collective resilience. He described H.E. Tô Lâm’s visit as a wake-up call for ASEAN and its partners to reinforce cooperation.

Reflecting on history, Prof. Aizawa highlighted Viet Nam’s pivotal role in shaping Southeast Asia as a region of cooperation rather than contestation. He noted that Viet Nam’s admission to ASEAN 30 years ago transformed the region’s geopolitical landscape, fostering unity where division once prevailed. Under the leadership of H.E. Tô Lâm, Viet Nam continues to demonstrate its commitment to regional solidarity.

Quoting ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Prof. Aizawa emphasised the importance of ASEAN remaining ‘cautiously optimistic’ in this time of transition – a principle aligned with ERIA’s mission of designing pragmatic policies that promote security, food and energy stability, economic welfare, and innovation.

ERIA’s Commitment to ASEAN and Viet Nam

Prof. Aizawa reaffirmed ERIA’s strong partnerships with leading Vietnamese institutions, including:

• Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
• Central Economic Commission
• Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

He also reflected on ERIA’s role in strengthening regional public policy institutions, drawing inspiration from history. He recalled the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou, where H Chí Minh mentored young leaders from across the region – not only Vietnamese but also Thais, Indonesians, and others. While today’s mission differs, ERIA remains inspired by H Chí Minh’s vision of regional collaboration – and now by H.E. Tô Lâm.

Concluding his remarks, Prof. Aizawa invited H.E. Tô Lâm to visit the ERIA School of Government to mentor the next generation of ASEAN leaders.

The participation of ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe and Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa in this commemorative event underscores ERIA’s unwavering commitment to ASEAN’s economic and policy development. Their engagement highlights the strong ties between ASEAN and Viet Nam, reinforcing a shared vision for a stable, prosperous, and innovative future for the region.