KL Declaration, ASEAN Community Vision 2045 Mark New Chapter For Southeast Asia - ASEAN Sec-Gen

By Nurul Hanis Izmir

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur Declaration and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 (ACV 2045) signed and adopted by the ASEAN leaders today mark a bold new chapter for the regional bloc as it embraces long-term strategic planning that is vital in dealing with rising global uncertainty, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said.

He said the Kuala Lumpur Declaration and ACV 2045 collectively represent the first-ever 20-year vision adopted by ASEAN leaders - the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future - a significant departure from previous shorter-term frameworks.

“There is a major difference in the sense that the first phase (of the previous vision) was initiated by Malaysia. And this time again, Malaysia has been in the works from the very beginning as the co-chair and until the end...the country has been leading the whole process,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit here.

Calling the ACV 2045 “very bold” and “strategic”, Kao also said that the long-term vision was indeed timely as it comes at a time of global disruptions, including political and security dynamics, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating climate crisis.

He also praised Malaysia’s chairmanship this year, describing it as being “very dynamic and strategic,” hence reflecting the theme of ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.

Backed by four strategic plans, he said ACV 2045 will shape ASEAN’s priorities over the next two decades, a step forward in the bloc’s commitment to being more transparent, open and inclusive.

“This Kuala Lumpur Declaration, along with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, is what Malaysia is doing now and a new chapter for ASEAN,” he said.

Echoing the sentiment, Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Dr Oh Ei Sun, said ACV 2045 introduces 17 new elements that reflect ASEAN’s evolving socio-economic landscape.

These include sustainable development themes like the green economy, blue economy and addressing challenges related to an ageing population, alongside empowering women and youths and bridging development gaps across the region.

“These are all non-controversial but crucial in shaping a more inclusive and forward-looking ASEAN,” he said.

Oh reiterated that the new vision comes at an important time, as ASEAN marks the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and that the declaration will likely take stock of the past decade’s achievements and sharpen the implementation of economic integration moving forward.

“For example, in terms of eliminating or at least reducing non-tariff barriers and improving the free movement of people across ASEAN...those remain persistent challenges,” he said.

Oh also highlighted that declarations such as the Kuala Lumpur Declaration often balance forward-looking ambitions with consensus on ongoing geopolitical issues like the South China Sea.

“There will probably be the usual call for all parties to restrain themselves and work towards consensus. But the real push forward will come from within, how we reduce barriers among ourselves,” he said.

Looking ahead, Oh said that within the next 20 years, ASEAN must focus on maintaining peace and stability amid global tensions, particularly between major powers and on ensuring ASEAN centrality in regional affairs.

“ASEAN must continue to play its central role to ensure that at least its neighbourhood remains peaceful and prosperous. That’s the hope with this new vision, which is to navigate an uncertain world together with clarity and cohesion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) chief executive officer Danial Rahman shared that what he found powerful in the new vision is how the inclusion is framed as a key goal.

“If we want real resilience, we can’t afford to leave out the poor, the undocumented, the stateless, or the digitally excluded. ASEAN isn’t just for the elite or policymakers, it’s for the people,” he said.

He also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration reflects ASEAN’s boldness in confronting some of the region’s most defining challenges, from the climate crisis and ageing populations to the urgent push for digital inclusion.

Danial said that these are not distant issues, as Southeast Asia stands to lose up to three per cent of its gross domestic product every year due to climate-related disasters.

“One in five people in ASEAN will be over the age of 60 by 2045. And 60 per cent of people still lack reliable access to the internet and all the economic opportunities that come with it,” he stressed.

The Kuala Lumpur Declaration encompasses six major documents, including strategic plans for each ASEAN pillar: Political-Security, Economic, Socio-cultural, and Connectivity. In total, it sets out 33 strategic goals and 531 concrete measures. 

-- BERNAMA