Dave Laksono: Indonesia-Vietnam Dialogue Forum Key to Building ASEAN's Future

Jakarta, VIVA – Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dave Laksono, stated that the presence of the Indonesian delegation at the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026 in Hanoi was not only part of efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s role in various strategic discussions about ASEAN’s future, but was also utilised to build communication and explore broader cooperation opportunities with various partners in Vietnam. Throughout the series of forums, the Indonesian delegation held a number of meetings with Vietnamese stakeholders to discuss potential collaborations that could provide tangible benefits for both countries. The meetings reflected Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Vietnam, which have been developing positively across various fields. One of the main focuses was enhancing trade and investment relations. Both countries are deemed to have great potential for expanding economic cooperation through more open market access, strengthening regional supply chains, and creating a competitive business climate for business actors. The maritime sector was also an important agenda item. As maritime nations in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam share a common interest in developing the blue economy, strengthening marine-based industries, and increasing the added value of the maritime sector as a growth engine. The energy sector was also discussed, with an exchange of views on investment opportunities, project development, and cooperation that supports energy security and sustainable growth. On the technology side, discussions emphasised the importance of knowledge transfer, experience sharing, and human resource capacity building to strengthen competitiveness in the era of digital transformation. Dave affirmed that all meetings at AFF 2026 demonstrated a shared vision between Indonesia and Vietnam in fostering closer cooperation, not only on economic aspects, but also on capacity building and innovation. ‘We see optimism and strong commitment from various parties to expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Indonesia-Vietnam relations have a good foundation, and the discussions in Hanoi further strengthen the belief that there are still many opportunities to be developed together,’ he said.