Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet says he held an informal discussion with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Hanoi, Vietnam, before the opening of the third ASEAN Future Forum on the morning of June 9, 2026.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Hun Manet said he had taken the opportunity to meet Anutin informally before attending the two-day forum in Vietnam. Images published by VietnamPlus showed the two leaders greeting each other and shaking hands outside the main meeting.
Cambodian political analyst Yang Peou, secretary general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the announcement showed that Cambodia was continuing to use diplomatic channels and dialogue with Thailand, even though border issues between the two countries remain unresolved.
But Thai media outlet Khaosod quoted Thai government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek as saying there had been no formal bilateral meeting between the two leaders. According to her, the two prime ministers only exchanged greetings and held a normal conversation while waiting for the event to begin.
The third ASEAN Future Forum was held in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, as a regional platform for ASEAN leaders to discuss shared development and ways to move forward together for the benefit of people across Southeast Asia.
Vietnamese leaders, including Le Minh Hung and To Lam, stressed the need for ASEAN countries to keep pace with a rapidly changing world and avoid relying on old approaches.
VietnamNet quoted To Lam’s opening remarks as saying that a changing world brings not only challenges, but also a call for countries to push themselves beyond routine thinking.
He urged ASEAN member states to look beyond election cycles, national borders, and short-term interests. He also called for young people to be placed at the centre of long-term strategic development.
To Lam said that if ASEAN can build on this foundation, the region will have less reason to fear global change.
