Malaysia Sets The Stage For A Resilient ASEAN With 2025 Chairmanship Theme: ASEAN Sec-Gen

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability” aptly reflects the region’s collective commitment to shaping an equitable and resilient future, in line with current global trends and the aspirations of its people, ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn said.

In his address at the opening of the First Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to ASEAN under Malaysia’s Chairmanship, Kao highlighted that these principles would steer ASEAN’s efforts in economic integration, climate action, connectivity, and social equity.

“2025 marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey, as the region stands at the crossroads of transformative global shifts,” he said in his speech, which was released Thursday by the ASEAN Secretariat here. 

Kao noted that the region stands at the crossroads of geopolitical dynamics, economic realignments, and rapid advancements in green technology, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence.

This year is also crucial for ASEAN as it reviews the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025 and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, preparing to embrace the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, a strategic framework designed to address emerging challenges and opportunities, he explained.

The meeting was attended by Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN and Chair of the CPR, Ambassador Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, along with the Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN Natércia Cipriana Coelho da Silva, and ASEAN deputy secretaries-general.

Kao emphasised the importance of close collaboration between the CPR and the ASEAN Secretariat to ensure effective implementation of ASEAN agreements and enhance the bloc’s ability to address cross-pillar and cross-sectoral priorities.

He further stressed the need for ASEAN to strengthen regional integration, enhance resilience, and foster a deeper sense of community, while externally safeguarding ASEAN centrality, championing peace and stability, advancing prosperity, and forging constructive partnerships with all stakeholders.

Kao expressed confidence that under Malaysia’s leadership, ASEAN would rise to challenges and capitalise on opportunities, while fully trusting the CPR, led by Ambassador Sarah and her team, to successfully carry out its expanding mandate.

“On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, I extend my best wishes to the CPR for every success under Malaysia’s Chairmanship.

“Let us join forces to build an inclusive, sustainable, dynamic, and resilient ASEAN that serves its people with distinction and remains a trusted partner in the global community,” he added.

Malaysia officially assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship on Jan 1, 2025 marking its fifth time holding the position, having previously chaired in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.

-- BERNAMA