Foreign Policy Talks joined the ASEAN for the Peoples Conference 2025

Foreign Policy Talks joined the inaugural ASEAN for the Peoples Conference (AFPC) in Jakarta, a landmark civil society forum bringing together 150+ organizations from across Southeast Asia. FPT attended sessions, connected with regional networks, and hosted a booth showcasing our mission of advancing foreign policy dialogue and youth engagement.

Held on 4–5 October 2025 in Jakarta, the ASEAN for the Peoples Conference (AFPC) marked a milestone in civil society engagement with ASEAN. Organized by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), AFPC aimed to bring the “people-centered ASEAN” vision into practice by convening grassroots voices, academics, activists, and practitioners from across the region.

About the Conference

The two-day forum attracted over 150 civil society organizations, who gathered to exchange perspectives on pressing regional issues across ASEAN’s three pillars: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural. Activities ranged from 24 panel discussions to film screenings, roundtables, and a Sunday morning walk along Jakarta’s car-free day. A centerpiece of the event was the ASEAN Leaders – CSO Heart-to-Heart Dialogue, a rare opportunity for civil society to communicate directly with ASEAN leaders. More details about the conference you can or may access the https://www.aseanforthepeoples.org/.

At the conclusion of the conference, a Collective Declaration was prepared, summarizing the shared aspirations, concerns, and policy recommendations of participating organizations. This document reflects civil society’s priorities in areas such as youth empowerment, digital governance, climate action, migration, and cultural connectivity.

Foreign Policy Talks participated as both an exhibitor and attendee:

• Booth Exhibition: Our booth introduced participants to Foreign Policy Talks’ mission, ongoing projects, and opportunities for collaboration.

• Networking & Collaboration: We engaged with CSOs, academics, and policy advocates from across ASEAN, exploring future partnerships and joint initiatives.

Insights & Impact

• AFPC underscored the value of people-centered regionalism, highlighting how civil society can help close the gap between ASEAN as an institution and its citizens.

• Participation allowed FPT to strengthen its regional profile as a platform for youth voices in international relations.

• The event reinforced FPT’s commitment to building cross-border linkages that inform and enrich foreign policy conversations.

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