Latest news with #AseanEconomicClub
The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam PM: Need for greater Asean unity to tackle global hurdles
Looking ahead: Chinh delivering his special keynote address at the ALPF in Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Greater unity within Asean is urgently needed to confront today's global challenges, says Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 2025 Asean Leadership and Partnership Forum (ALPF). He said that no single country can tackle the world's complex issues alone and emphasised the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation. 'No one can solve these global, comprehensive and people-oriented issues alone, not even the United States or China,' he said. Citing the Covid-19 pandemic as an example, Chinh highlighted the interconnected nature of today's world, where crises quickly impact global systems, livelihoods and public health. The ALPF was jointly organised by the Asean Economic Club, Asean Business Club, Asean Business Advisory Council and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, on the eve of the 46th Asean Summit here. In a special keynote address read by Cambodian Senior Minister Sok Siphana, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet urged Asean to adopt a more proactive stance amid a fast-evolving global economic landscape. 'We cannot afford to be reactive. By leveraging our Free Trade Agreements, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and strategic ties with key global markets, we ensure that Asean remains a driver of global growth. 'By doing so, we ensure that Asean remains a driver of global growth, rather than a bystander to external economic pressures,' he said. Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia's support for regional cooperation through initiatives such as the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement, while warning that a widening digital divide could hinder progress. 'Asean must take decisive steps to ensure digital transformation benefits all member states. This includes expanding digital connectivity, strengthening cybersecurity frameworks and investing in digital skills training,' he said. Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, founder and chairman of the Asean Economic Club and president of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, highlighted the forum's focus on inclusive development. He stressed the importance of Asean's participation in the global 'great reset' to address change. 'We are living in a world facing a polycrisis, and Asean faces a VUCA environment: volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous,' he said. Yeoh added that Asean's path forward should focus on centrality, connectivity and climate action, while addressing disruption, digitalisation and division. Special video addresses were also delivered by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn. A highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Distinguished Asean Leader Award to Chinh in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions to regional cooperation, economic resilience and sustainable development in Asean. The forum was sponsored by the Kuok Group and Asia Platinum Capital, with Star Media Group Bhd, China Daily and Khmer Times as media partners.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
EMPOWERING ASEAN WITH SMART COLLABORATION
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone receiving the 2024 Distinguished Asean Leader Award from KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan during the Asean Leadership and Partnership Forum held in Vientiane, Laos, last year, in the presence of (from left) Sok and Yeoh. Unlocking Asean's potential through innovation, inclusivity and sustainable growth THE 2025 Asean Leadership and Partnership Forum (ALPF) is set to promote economic co-operation, business collaboration and alliance between governments, businesses and civil society to advance sustainable and inclusive development. The Asean Economic Club, Asean Business Club, Asean Business Advisory Council and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific will jointly convene the ALPF on May 25, on the eve of the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The ALPF is a leading regional forum convened annually in the country chairing Asean and it has been hosted across all Asean countries over the years. Beyond discussions and exchanges, the forum will serve as a vital platform for high-level networking to connect, exchange ideas and explore collaborations in key areas such as investment, innovation, technology, digital transformation and green growth. Yeoh said the ALPF focuses on public-private-people partnerships to uphold and promote the triple bottom line of planet, people and prosperity. Asean Economic Club (AEC) founder and chairman, and forum organising chairman, Tan Sri Michael Yeoh – who is also KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president – said the ALPF focuses on public-private-people partnerships to uphold and promote the triple bottom line of planet, people and prosperity. From interactive sessions on digital innovations to roundtables on Asean connectivity, green growth and sustainable development, delegates from all 10 Asean countries will experience a dynamic environment conducive to dialogue, collaboration and action. The ALPF will also provide timely opportunities to discuss geostrategic and geoeconomic challenges in an increasingly volatile environment. Distinguished speakers at the forum will include the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as ministers, business and thought leaders from Asean member countries. The forum paves the way for Asean to take bold steps towards a more relevant, equitable and sustainable future. 'It has never been more timely and critical to discuss Asean leadership and partnership. 'The foundation of Asean prosperity is shaken. The world has changed,' said Asean Business Club (ABC) president and former Asean Business Advisory Council chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid. 'It has never been more timely and critical to discuss Asean leadership and partnership,' said Munir. 'We are grateful, therefore, to the Asean leaders gracing our event to address the challenges before participants of the forum.' The forum will gather a distinguished lineup of speakers from across the regional grouping of 10 states and beyond, including policymakers, business leaders and scholars. Sessions will address topics such as digital transformation, sustainable development, innovation ecosystems, green economy and inclusive growth. Among the prominent speakers are: > Senior Minister, Royal Government of Cambodia advisor, Cambodian Development Resource Institute board chairman and AEC adviser Dr Sok Siphana; > Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) founder, AEC co-chair and former Indonesian Foreign Affairs vice minister Dr Dino Patti Djalal; > Center for China and Globalization (CCG) founder and president, and China State Council former counsellor Dr Henry Huiyao Wang; > Hong Kong Legislative Council member and Hong Kong Productivity Council chairman Sunny Tan; > China Daily Asia Pacific publisher and China Daily Group deputy editor-in-chief Zhou Li; > ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) chair, Sintesa Group chief executive officer, and Indonesian Employers Association chairman Shinta Widjaja Kamdani; > SGV & Co (Ernst and Young, Philippines) senior policy advisor and former Philippines Foreign Minister Delia D. Albert; > Indian Chamber of Commerce director-general Dr Rajeev Singh; > EU-Asean Business Council (Singapore) executive director Chris Humphrey; > The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Belt and Road commissioner Nicholas Ho Lik-chi. The forum is sponsored by the Kuok Group and Asia Platinum Capital, with Star Media Group Bhd, China Daily and Khmer Times as media partners.
