A chapter of Professor Thomas Patterson on the book “The AI World Society: A 30-Year US-Vietnam Partnership from Nha Trang to Boston (1995-2025)”

Looking back on the past two decades, my enduring friendship with Tuan Anh Nguyen stands out as one of the greatest personal rewards of my professional life. Our relationship, forged through years of collaboration, has matured into something both deeply meaningful and intellectually enriching. It rests securely on a foundation of mutual trust, lively intellectual exchange, and a shared vision for a world ever more interconnected and compassionate. I treasure not only the warmth of our personal connection but also my abiding admiration for Tuan’s remarkable leadership, particularly as the guiding spirit behind the Boston Global Forum.

When we first established the Boston Global Forum in my Kennedy School office in 2012, my view of its potential was rather local in scope. My hope was to tap the unrivaled intellectual energy of Greater Boston—a region blessed with a constellation of world-class colleges and universities. I imagined drawing together the area’s scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders, creating a forum through which we could address pressing international challenges.

But if, at that inception, Tuan’s vision exactly matched my own, it quickly took on a new and far broader ambition. Almost immediately, he began to expand the Forum’s reach beyond the local and even national spheres, envisioning an institution that would serve as a catalyst for genuine international dialogue and partnership. He started with the inclusion of contributors from Vietnam and then facilitated a steady influx of voices and participants from around the world. Japan became represented, not only by diplomats and policymakers but also by respected scholars. Europe soon joined the conversation. Tuan’s efforts brought Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the former President of Latvia, into the Forum. That opened the door for our participation in the influential Riga Conference. This annual convocation in Latvia gathers leading experts, academics, journalists, and entrepreneurs to address key issues facing the transatlantic community.

The momentum did not stop there. Thanks to Tuan’s unique ability to forge high-level relationships, we found ourselves in dialogue with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and influential Japanese ministers, and, through further outreach, with senior representatives of the United Nations and the Atlantic Alliance. Each new partnership broadened our scope and deepened our influence. One of the most striking milestones came in 2023, when Tuan, on behalf of the Boston Global Forum, addressed an audience of 100,000 people at the ceremony to celebrate the 70^th birthday of India’s spiritual leader. Amma. He presented her the Boston Global Forum’s World Leader for Peace and Security Award. The event coincided with the holding of the C20 meeting in India—a testament to how far the organization had come from its Boston roots. Shortly afterward, Tuan spearheaded an agreement with the Vatican on ethical issues relating to artificial intelligence, culminating in the extraordinary moment of his audience with Pope Francis. The pace has not let up; in just the past year, the Boston Global Forum has convened sessions in the major world capitals of Tokyo and Paris, the latter highlighted by Tuan’s meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

These developments have been transformative, not only elevating the global profile of the Boston Global Forum but also dramatically amplifying its ability to shape important conversations on the world stage. And one thing is abundantly clear to me: Tuan’s journey has no finish line. His relentless optimism and drive ensure that the Boston Global Forum will continue to grow in reach and impact. I look forward, with anticipation, to witnessing the new frontiers he and the Forum will cross in the years ahead.