ASEAN Leaders Pledge Unity To Ensure Thriving Community
GENERAL
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- ASEAN leaders adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the ASEAN Community, pledging to continue working together in maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability, as well as further development and growth in the region.
This commitment aims to ensure that the ASEAN Community continues to thrive and remains adaptive and responsive to the impacts and inherent opportunities of existing and future megatrends, according to the declaration, which was adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit yesterday.
The declaration, shared with the media today, noted that the leaders also agreed to strengthen efforts in upholding ASEAN centrality, as well as maintaining an ASEAN-centred, open, inclusive, transparent, resilient and rules-based regional architecture that respects international law, including through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and broaden cooperation with ASEAN's external partners and to explore cooperation with other interested parties.
This includes through substantive, practical and tangible cooperation on the four priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
According to the declaration, ASEAN leaders will also strive to ensure the region's continued progress by reinforcing adherence to ASEAN's shared principles and commitments, strengthening institutional mechanisms, enhancing cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination, and proactively responding to challenges and opportunities
They decided to redouble their efforts to further enhance ASEAN Connectivity, including to advance the ASEAN Power Grid, energy interconnection and multilateral power trade, and narrow development gaps through inclusive, participatory, and equitable access to economic and socio-cultural opportunities.
ASEAN leaders also agreed to foster a stronger ASEAN identity and promote greater people-to-people connectivity through education, cultural exchanges and social cooperation.
They are committed to further ensuring the quality of life and well-being of ASEAN peoples, leaving no one behind, by strengthening social protection, enhancing health and nutrition, promoting inclusive and sustainable development, and advancing quality education and skills development for a future-ready ASEAN workforce.
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