‘Vision 2045 makes regional decisions clear'

The Star

7 days ago

Kao: 'We create a strong and more trusted partnership through this open, inclusive process (Vision 2045).'
KUALA LUMPUR: The adoption of the Asean Community Vision 2045 gives the region's stakeholders and partners a clear direction of the way Asean is moving ­forward, says the association's secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
This, he said, will create a strong and trusted partnership alongside articulating the future envisioned for Asean, as a community.
'It will tell all regional stakeholders and partners where we are heading so they don't guess what direction we take or what we're going to do.
'We create a strong and more trusted partnership through this open, inclusive process,' he said in an interview with The Star.
On the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Economic Summit, Kao said this provides a look into the economic potentials of how collaboration can be carried out.
'There is the dynamic of promoting more trade, investment, tourism, connectivity and people-­to-people exchanges.
'With Asean, it has always been in its interest to, on the one hand, focus on maximising existing opportunities and, at the same time, identify new ones that we can capitalise on,' he said.
He commended the Malaysian government for conceptualising and making the meeting a reality.
'Malaysia, as the Asean Chair this year, has been dynamic, bold and strategic, as it has consolida­ted within Asean and reached out to new areas where we can build new partnerships,' he said.
Kao expressed his belief that Asean is fundamentally about its people and expressed his aspiration for the association to evolve into a more united and integrated community, with a focus on being people-orientated.
He stressed the importance of producing a positive long-term impact through inclusivity and sustainability.
'No one should be left out. We also have to talk about the future generations. What we do cannot be only for the current generation but also for the future,' he said.