ASEAN Continues To Stand Out As Beacon Of Mulitilateral Cooperation, Stability
By Nur Atiq Maisarah Suhaimi
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN, under Malaysia’s proactive and responsible stewardship, continues to stand out as a beacon of multilateral cooperation and a pillar of peace, stability and development in the region, said Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang.
He said Malaysia has clearly demonstrated the strength and stature of a cohesive and adaptive ASEAN Community.
“ASEAN has upheld its long-standing tradition of solidarity, overcoming differences and challenges to preserve peace and stability, while achieving historic progress,” he told Bernama in an written interview in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
Giang said the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, along with political-security, economic, socio-cultural and connectivity strategies, has charted the course for regional cooperation in the decades to come.
At the same time, the formal admission of Timor-Leste has expanded ASEAN’s development prospects and integration space, further deepening the Community’s inclusiveness and cohesion, he said.
Giang said that 2025 also marks significant breakthroughs for ASEAN in economic growth and innovation, with the region’s growth projected at around 4.7 per cent - reaffirming its position as one of the most dynamic in the world.
He noted that new regional frameworks are gradually taking shape - including the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the ASEAN Power Grid and the ASEAN Digital Master Plan - laying the foundation for a digital community, driven by science, technology and innovation.
“Externally, ASEAN has made important advances through new inter-regional cooperation models, such as ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China, as well as through the upgrading of ASEAN-New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“These milestones further illustrate ASEAN’s vitality, and its growing appeal within regional and global architectures,” he said.
On the socio-cultural front, Giang said ASEAN continues to uphold its people-centred approach, placing citizens at the heart of community building, through collaborative initiatives in education, health, labour, culture, climate change response and sub-regional development.
“These efforts provide a solid foundation for strengthening ASEAN’s cohesion, and ensuring that its citizens truly experience the value of peace, cooperation and development,” he said.
Giang said Vietnam is proud to have worked alongside Malaysia and other ASEAN member states in advancing the bloc’s shared goals, and will continue to work closely with all partners to realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
He expressed confidence that the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will forge a shared vision and collective determination, paving the way for a new chapter of peace, stability and prosperity in the region - and for building a community truly of the people and for the people.
-- BERNAMA
