As many as 700 delegates have registered for the event, including over 370 from key people’s organisations of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Permanent Deputy President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, Tran Dac Loi, said at a press briefing on September 22 that the forum is aimed at exchanging information and experience while strengthening solidarity and cooperation between social movements and people’s organisations in ASEAN member countries.

Also high on the agenda are innovations and constructive measures that coordinate efforts among ASEAN People’s organisations to cope with common challenges emerging from the building of an ASEAN community.

The workshop is also focused on increasing public involvement in the policy-making process of ASEAN. To this end, people are encouraged to take part in campaigning and supervising, as well as putting forwards recommendations to the grouping’s leaders to build a people-centred ASEAN.

The ASEAN People’s Forum is an opportunity for regional people to better understand host Vietnam and promote cooperation between the Vietnamese people’s organisations and their ASEAN partners.