The First Asia-Africa International Forum: Adapting to Global Challenges

AAIF 2025 brings together 100 delegates, including representatives of diplomatic agencies, prestigious scholars and experts from Asia, Africa and many other regions of the world.

Global challenges from climate change, energy security, food security, health issues to economic and geopolitical fluctuations are becoming increasingly complex, in which economic and geopolitical fluctuations risk affecting strategic competition, creating trade tensions and conflicts, thereby increasing instability on a global scale. This reality not only puts pressure on individual countries in the Asia-Africa continent but also sets a trend for a multilateral approach, through collective efforts to find effective and sustainable solutions.

Looking back at history, Asian and African countries have established a foundation for deep solidarity due to their shared history of fighting against colonialism, imperialism and the Bandung spirit (through the Bandung Conference in 1955).

On that basis, Asian and African countries, by drawing on common values and historical experiences, can jointly seek and build sustainable solutions through collective efforts.

The Asia-Africa International Forum 2025: Adapting to Global Challenges in the New Context” is an initiative to promote dialogue, share experiences and seek effective multilateral cooperation solutions among Asian and African countries, as well as with the international community.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Institute of South Asian, West Asian and African Studies, delivered the opening speech at the forum.

The forum is a platform for analyzing and discussing the main contents including: Identifying and evaluating outstanding issues in Asia and Africa in the new global context; Discussing global challenges affecting Asia and Africa; Sharing solutions and response experiences of Asian and African countries; Analyzing international cooperation models between Asian and African countries, and with the world ; Assessing Vietnam's cooperative relations with Asia and Africa in the new context and proposing solutions to promote them.

AAIF 2025 brings together 100 delegates, including representatives of diplomatic agencies, ambassadors, chargé d'affaires and counselors from foreign embassies in Vietnam, along with prestigious scholars and experts from Asia, Africa and many other regions of the world.

Speaking at the forum, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Institute of South Asian, West Asian and African Studies, emphasized: The positions and potentials of the two continents have many similarities. Asia is currently the leading growth engine, accounting for more than 40% of global GDP. Africa is the youngest continent, rich in resource and market potential, with rapid urbanization and digital transformation. Both regions play a key role in maritime routes, supply chains and the global economic and security order.

Delegates exchange experiences at the forum.

Asian and African countries share memories of the struggle for national liberation, the desire for independence, development and international justice. However, the current position of most Asian and African countries is limited, having to deal with global challenges while struggling with many domestic issues.

At the Forum, with its experience in innovation, integration and sustainable development, Vietnam shared many lessons with its Asian and African friends such as: issues related to poverty reduction and agricultural development: from a country with food shortages, Vietnam has become a leading agricultural exporter, experience in digital transformation from the National Digital Transformation Program (2020) and the Digital Economy - Digital Society Development Strategy (2022), towards a knowledge-based and innovative economy. Regarding its contribution to UN peacekeeping since 2018, Vietnam has maintained a Level 2 Field Hospital at UNMISS (South Sudan), and sent forces to MINUSCA (Central African Republic) and UNISFA (Abyei).

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung said that in the current world context, to promote development, Asian and African countries need to: Strengthen economic and trade links, Actively cooperate in science, technology and education, Strongly reform multilateral institutions as well as institutionalize the Asia-Africa Forum. Accordingly, it is proposed that the forum should become an annual mechanism, with a Secretariat and specialized working groups, forming research networks, turning political declarations into practical cooperative actions.

In Asian and African countries, there are also many countries with high levels of development and strong potential. Cooperation between Asia and Africa needs to build specific models, so that strong countries with great potential can participate and support developing and less developed countries to develop together. Tripartite and quadripartite cooperation models need to be replicated.

Delegates attending the forum took a souvenir photo.

Speaking at the Forum, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Associate Professor, Dr. Ta Minh Tuan affirmed: Vietnam is a part of the Asian family, an active member of ASEAN and a responsible member of the international community. Vietnam and Africa also have a strong cooperative relationship. Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with all 55 African countries, with the African Union (AU) and become an observer of the African Union (AU). Since the mid-1990s, Vietnam has cooperated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Africa according to the South-South cooperation model and tripartite cooperation to transfer agricultural development and poverty reduction techniques to Africa (Senegal, Mozambique, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Mali, Namibia, the Republic of Guinea, Benin, the Republic of Congo, ...). In particular, the tripartite cooperation between Vietnam-FAO-Senegal has become a model of South-South cooperation. Vietnam's approach to Africa through South-South Cooperation aims to create opportunities for learning and development; proactively transfer technology, share information; cooperate and share for common interests; combine the state and private sectors.

The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, as a leading research institution in the field of social sciences and humanities, pledges to continue to accompany, support and promote research activities and academic exchanges, contributing to further deepening Asia-Africa cooperation in the coming time.

Vu Quynh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dien-dan-quoc-te-a-phi-lan-thu-nhat-thich-ung-truoc-cac-thach-thuc-toan-cau-post906990.html