Eight key principles that guide the practice of ARF preventive diplomacy are:

• reliance on diplomatic and peaceful methods;
• non-coercive;
• timeliness;
• trust and confidence;
• operates on the basis of consultation and consensus;
• voluntary;
• applies to conflict between and among States;
• to be conducted in accordance with universally recognized basic principles of international law and inter-state relations.

To further pave the way for the ARF to reach a higher level of cooperation as well as to become a more “action-oriented” forum, the ARF in 2011 adopted the ARF Work Plan on Preventive Diplomacy.