Latest news with #Kao
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Asean Sec-Gen hails 'twin successes' of 46th Summit with Vision 2045, Timor-Leste admission
Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn speaks during an interview with media practitioners held in conjunction with the 46th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 25, 2025. - Photo: Bernama JAKARTA: (Bernama) Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday (May 28) hailed the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur as a success, citing the adoption of the Asean Community Vision 2045 and progress toward Timor-Leste's full membership as landmark outcomes. Held under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship themed "Inclusivity and Sustainability', the two-day summit embodied the spirit of Asean's collective aspirations, he said. Kao highlighted the "twin successes' of the summit - the launch of the Asean Community Vision 2045 with four strategic plans, and the consensus to admit Timor-Leste as Asean's 11th full member, with formal induction expected at the October summit. "Leaders reached consensus on Timor-Leste's full membership during the summit's retreat session,' he said, noting that a dedicated Timor-Leste unit has been established within the Asean Secretariat to support the accession process. He made the remarks during a briefing on the summit's outcomes-including the 2nd Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit-attended by the diplomatic corps and media at the Asean Headquarters. Reflecting on the overall outcome, Kao said the summit was successful in terms of participation, substance, and organisation, achieving its intended goals, with a total of 22 outcome documents adopted during the summits. On internal challenges, Kao said Asean leaders engaged in "frank and candid' discussions, particularly regarding the crisis in Myanmar and regional economic pressures. "External meetings with China and the GCC also emphasised trust-building both within the region and with external partners,' he stressed. On Myanmar, he said leaders reaffirmed the validity of the five-point consensus and noted growing support for appointing a long-term special envoy to step up diplomatic efforts amid ongoing violence and humanitarian concerns. On impact of US tariffs, Kao said Asean countries face serious economic disruption but have agreed not to retaliate, instead opting for cooperative negotiations with Washington. He added that the bloc plans to upgrade its free trade agreements with South Korea, explore a potential region-to-region free trade agreement with the GCC. At the Asean-GCC meeting, Kao both sides agreed to deepen co-operation in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, air connectivity, people-to-people exchange, and energy transition as well as discuss the Palestine and Gaza issues. The inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit was also held, where leaders underscored the importance of a rules-based multilateral trading system and explored synergies in trade, energy, and technology. When asked about the possibility of Papua New Guinea (PNG) joining Asean following Indonesia's expressed support, Kao stated that although the matter was brought up, there has been no formal discussion among Asean member states to date. "That is something that our officials would need to look into,' he said, adding that consensus among all current members would be necessary for PNG to join. - Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
ASEAN Sec-Gen Hails ‘Twin Successes' Of 46th Summit With Vision 2045, Timor-Leste Admission
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, May 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday hailed the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as a success, citing the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and progress toward Timor-Leste's full membership as landmark outcomes. Held under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', the two-day summit embodied the spirit of ASEAN's collective aspirations, he said. Kao highlighted the 'twin successes' of the summit - the launch of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 with four strategic plans, and the consensus to admit Timor-Leste as ASEAN's 11th full member, with formal induction expected at the October summit. 'Leaders reached consensus on Timor-Leste's full membership during the summit's retreat session,' he said, noting that a dedicated Timor-Leste unit has been established within the ASEAN Secretariat to support the accession process. He made the remarks during a briefing on the summit's outcomes—including the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit—attended by the diplomatic corps and media at the ASEAN Headquarters. Reflecting on the overall outcome, Kao said the summit was successful in terms of participation, substance, and organisation, achieving its intended goals, with a total of 22 outcome documents adopted during the summits. On internal challenges, Kao said ASEAN leaders engaged in 'frank and candid' discussions, particularly regarding the crisis in Myanmar and regional economic pressures. 'External meetings with China and the GCC also emphasised trust-building both within the region and with external partners,' he stressed.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
ILO, ASEAN sec-gen praise Sim's leadership in skills development
KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has received high praise from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn for his visionary leadership in advancing skills development and human capital investment across the region. Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) in a statement said the recognition comes as Malaysia, under its ASEAN Chairmanship hosted the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS), here today. According to the statement, Kao praised Malaysia's commitment, expressing his appreciation to the ministry and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) for their visionary leadership in launching the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 (AYOS 2025) as a flagship initiative under Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship. 'This symposium provides a timely and meaningful platform to reaffirm our collective commitment to investing in our people, the true architects of ASEAN's growth and the foundation of ASEAN's resilience and progress,' Kao said. The symposium brought together around 300 key stakeholders from across ASEAN to discuss strategic investments in skills and human capital development. Themed 'Investment in Human Capital, Sustainable Financing, Public-Private Partnerships and Social Inclusion', the event is a flagship platform under the AYOS 2025, which aims to bridge skills gaps, foster talent mobility and promote inclusive growth throughout the region. AYOS 2025, led by KESUMA, features seven flagship events, including the AHCDIS and the National Training Week (NTW), both designed to drive collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation across the region. These efforts align with Malaysia's broader vision to position ASEAN as a global leader in skilled talent and sustainable development. Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 marks a pivotal moment for the country and the region. As Chair, Malaysia is leading a year-long series of initiatives and high-level meetings focused on inclusivity, sustainability, and regional cooperation.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
ILO, ASEAN Sec-gen Praise Sim's Leadership In Skills Development
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 -- Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong delivers his keynote address during the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHTS RESERVED KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has received high praise from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn for his visionary leadership in advancing skills development and human capital investment across the region. Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) in a statement said the recognition comes as Malaysia, under its ASEAN Chairmanship hosted the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS), here today. According to the statement, Kao praised Malaysia's commitment, expressing his appreciation to the ministry and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) for their visionary leadership in launching the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 (AYOS 2025) as a flagship initiative under Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship. 'This symposium provides a timely and meaningful platform to reaffirm our collective commitment to investing in our people, the true architects of ASEAN's growth and the foundation of ASEAN's resilience and progress,' Kao said. The symposium brought together around 300 key stakeholders from across ASEAN to discuss strategic investments in skills and human capital development. Themed 'Investment in Human Capital, Sustainable Financing, Public-Private Partnerships and Social Inclusion', the event is a flagship platform under the AYOS 2025, which aims to bridge skills gaps, foster talent mobility and promote inclusive growth throughout the region. AYOS 2025, led by KESUMA, features seven flagship events, including the AHCDIS and the National Training Week (NTW), both designed to drive collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation across the region. These efforts align with Malaysia's broader vision to position ASEAN as a global leader in skilled talent and sustainable development. Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 marks a pivotal moment for the country and the region. As Chair, Malaysia is leading a year-long series of initiatives and high-level meetings focused on inclusivity, sustainability, and regional cooperation.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Vision 2045 makes regional decisions clear'
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.
