Report

Report

Report

Greetings, honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Van Hien Nguyen, a junior at UNIS Hanoi. This UNISMUN November 2026 Conference marks my 5th conference and my 2nd as a chair, and it’s an honour to serve as the Head Chair of ASEAN. Outside of MUN, I’m also passionate about working on education access for students coming from rural areas, and I hope to build a career pathway that utilises my skills from MUN to advocate for the vulnerable communities. 

This year's N2026 conference’s theme is “To what extent can multilateralism remain effective in an increasingly divided world?”. The question relates strongly to the APEC-ASEAN committee. Its 11 member states differ widely in political systems and economies, yet the organization operates through consensus and the principle of non-interference. These principles have sustained dialogue for decades, but they also affect how quickly ASEAN can respond to regional crises. Delegates are encouraged to consider not only whether cooperation is possible, but also what conditions allow it to succeed.

Our first topic is “The question of ASEAN membership expansion.” In October 2025, Timor-Leste was admitted as ASEAN’s 11th member state, 14 years after its initial application, and Papua New Guinea has expressed interest in joining. As a student from Vietnam, which joined in 1995, I recognize how membership can shape a nation’s development. At the same time, expansion raises questions about readiness, integration, and more importantly, whether a larger organization can reach consensus.

Our second topic is “The issue of resolving the Myanmar Crisis.” Since the military takeover of 1 February 2021, more than 3.5 million people have been displaced, and implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus has remained limited. Indeed, the crisis raises the question of how ASEAN can balance respect for state sovereignty with the protection of civilians.

Above all, our chair team hopes to build a strong sense of community within this committee. UNISMUN and our Chair Team deeply value diversity and community, firmly believing that every opinion deserves to be heard and respected. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where delegates can freely share ideas and engage in fruitful debate. Delegates are encouraged to research their country’s position and seek common ground. 

We look forward to seeing you in November. 

Thank you!

Van Hien Nguyen. 

Good day, honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests,

My name is Tung, a 12th grader from Nguyen Tat Thanh Lower and Upper Secondary School. It is my utmost privilege to take part in UNISMUN November 2026 Conference as the Deputy Chair of ASEAN, marking my 5th conference and my first time ever chairing a committee. As my high school years are coming to an end, this is an incredible opportunity, and I shall do my best to ensure the success of each session, as well as to support delegates on their journey.

Ever since the end of the Cold War, multipolarity has been established all across the globe, causing great diversity in external relationships and ideologies. Nations slowly rose to become power centers while actively seeking for foreign opportunities to thrive even further. Under such a circumstance, a question has been raised: “To what extent can multilateralism remain effective in an increasingly divided world?”. For ASEAN, this means a doubt cast upon its structure, membership, and jurisdiction, calling out for fundamental changes regarding its ways of operation. When partnerships are challenged, what will happen to the already ongoing domestic issues, and how can ASEAN align its frameworks with the stance of each member state?

The first topic for delegates to discuss will be “The question of ASEAN membership expansion”. As of 2026, ASEAN has 11 member states, with Timor Leste joining the latest. Expanding this list means approving non-regional members and interacting with different ideologies, which can either be an impactful economic boost, or an inevitable clash between nations. Nevertheless, the key issue remains at the heart of ASEAN itself: Where can we find the common ground, and how will the organisation uphold it in accordance with its members?

On the other hand, the second topic will revolve around “The issue of resolving the Myanmar Crisis”, searching for a resolution to a detrimental military coup. By 2024, at least 8.000 civilian casualties were recorded, and almost 30.000 arrests were made. A multi-sided civil war is running the risk of tearing the country apart, yet ASEAN’s ability to dispute is challenged by its own jurisdictional limits, namely the criticism against the Five-Point Consensus. Delegates will have to consider major reformations, while maintaining ASEAN’s centrality as an inter-governmental organisation.

While working on these two topics, our Chair Team finds the theme highly relatable, given that Vietnam itself is also a pivotal member state, and integration is under great focus. We hope that delegates will be able to fully comprehend the complexity of multilateralism, and understand their role as diplomats of a new era. As member states of ASEAN, delegates are welcomed to debate, to express their ideas, and most importantly, to form unforgettable bonds with others.

It is our honor to be by your side in this Conference, and we truly appreciate your participation!

Always faithful, always forward,

Trinh Quang Tung

Greetings, honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Jason Jin and I’m a sophomore from Concordia International School Hanoi. This conference would mark my 6th MUN conference yet only my second chairing conference. I’m looking forward to seeing the delegate’s progress of developing their confidence for speaking as well as a passion for solving international issues through collaboration and negotiation. I hope to be able to use the skills I have learnt in MUN outside of the classroom in my future careers. 

My experience in MUN often connects with this year’s UNISMUN’s theme, “To what extent can multilateralism remain effective in an increasingly divided world?” Through MUN, I have learnt that international cooperation is often not straightforward and every country has their own goals to accomplish, especially in the FCC MUN committees. However, I have also seen how negotiations and open discussions help both sides of achieving their goals. 

I strongly believe that ASEAN is an extremely important UN committee. It promotes peace, economic growth and cooperation among Southeast Asian nations. For example, the ASEAN AHA center supports disaster relief, like responses to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. These actions not only show multilateral cooperation’s usefulness despite the growing divided world, but it also shows ASEAN’s importance for countries. 

Our first topic, “The question of ASEAN membership expansion” raises a concern about how ASEAN can open itself up to new members while ensuring their ability to fulfil their obligations. Our second topic, “The issue of resolving the Myanmar Crisis” focuses on ASEAN’s struggles in resolving the Myanmar Crisis that became even worse in April of 2021. Despite ASEAn’s immediate response by introducing the Five-Point Consensus in April 2021, the issue still remains. 

In conclusion, I will really look forward to this conference, to you guys’ resolutions, and your debates. I hope you guys are able to come up with good solutions and are excited about their conference whether it’s your first time or not, thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Jason Jin