ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit also pushed for the accelerated operationalisation of the ASEAN Power Grid, saying the bloc already has mechanisms in place to manage potential energy supply disruptions arising from the conflict.

“I would like to echo the point made by the Chair, that ASEAN has the capacity to manage disruptions, and that ASEAN has all the mechanisms in place such as the ASEAN Power Grid and the APSA 2.0,” he told a press conference on the outcomes of the Philippines’s summit, here, which was also streamed live on Youtube on Monday.

According to the ASEAN Centre for Energy, APSA is a regional framework designed to strengthen ASEAN energy security cooperation, including emergency fuel-sharing arrangements during supply disruptions and crises, while the ASEAN Power Grid is a regional initiative designed to connect electricity networks across Southeast Asia to strengthen energy security, support cross-border electricity trade and improve regional grid resilience. 

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Kao said ASEAN leaders had made it clear that expediting APSA 2.0 was no longer merely a guidance, but a direct instruction to member states.

“So each member state has to go back to their respective parliaments and get this cleared domestically as quickly as possible,” he said.

Although he did not provide a specific timeline, Kao expressed confidence that the ratification process should be completed before the 49th ASEAN Summit.

During the 48th Summit, Kao said ASEAN leaders acknowledged that the impact of the West Asia conflict could not be reversed overnight, even if hostilities were to end immediately, and stressed that the region must prepare for the ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges arising from the crisis.

“The leaders collectively acknowledged that in dealing with geopolitical challenges, ASEAN unity and solidarity are key in enabling us to effectively manage these challenges,” he said.

Kao said leaders also discussed practical measures to support one another during periods of disruption, including possible fuel and food-sharing arrangements among member states.

“So basically, whatever member states can help with. Some would say they have extra fuel, maybe they can help; others might have extra rice. So I think there is a real sense of unity,” he said.

Beyond crisis management, Kao said ASEAN leaders also viewed current global challenges as an opportunity to accelerate regional economic diversification, digital transformation and sustainable development initiatives.

Kao said leaders also stressed the urgency of maximising existing free trade agreements (FTAs), including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while accelerating negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is targeted to be signed at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November.

He also said ASEAN welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s pledge to allocate US$30 billion by 2030 to support ASEAN priorities, including crisis response measures and long-term regional resilience under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

Kao stated that the 48th Summit resulted in 18 key outcome documents being adopted and noted by ASEAN leaders, while also providing opportunities for bilateral meetings among ASEAN leaders and ministers, including with Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda, who attended as a guest.

-- BERNAMA