Latest news with #VikneswaranRaman
Barnama
28-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
ACV 2045 Holds Potential To Boost Respect For ASEAN As A Strong Bloc
By Vikneswaran Raman KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045, adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit on Monday through the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, has the potential to make the bloc -- with its nearly 700 million population -- more respected, especially by organisations in the West. Geostrategist and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research (NASR) Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said that ACV 2045 is based on two key concepts -- neutrality and centrality -- which will strengthen ASEAN as it advances to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. 'ASEAN is becoming more central, involved in international affairs, while remaining neutral -- not partial toward the United States (US), China, or Russia -- even as the major powers vie to have a greater influence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. 'Malaysia, as the current ASEAN Chair, wants to ensure that the people of ASEAN feel proud to be part of the bloc, just like how people in the European Union (EU) feel. I believe ACV 2045 can be achieved within the next 20 years,' he told Bernama when contacted. Azmi, who is also a National Council of Professors (MPN) fellow, said ACV 2045 -- a continuation of ACV 2025 that was launched when Malaysia last chaired ASEAN a decade ago -- could resolve not only internal issues such as the Myanmar conflict and the South China Sea dispute, but be used as a guide in dealing with international issues such as the India-Pakistan conflict, Gaza crisis, and the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, MPN chairman Distinguished Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin opined that ACV 2045 is 'more optimistic' despite the presence of longstanding challenges from within and outside the ASEAN region. He said that internally, ASEAN faces the challenge of finding a harmonious solution for what seems like a never-ending problem, namely the Myanmar issue. 'The external challenge is economic in nature, vis-a-vis the threat of the United States (US) tariffs, which ASEAN can confront together by finding economic partners besides the US from all parts of the world.
Barnama
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Anwar Meets Manchester United, ASEAN All-Stars Representatives
By Vikneswaran Raman KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Despite a packed schedule, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took a moment to lift football spirits as he received a courtesy call from representatives of Manchester United and the ASEAN All-Stars team on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and related summits here today. The Red Devils were represented by chief executive officer (CEO) Omar Berrada and coach Ruben Amorim, while head coach Kim Sang Sik and Harimau Malaya's naturalised player Sergio Aguero appeared on behalf of the ASEAN selection. Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) council member Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) president Major General Khiev Sameth, ProEvents CEO Julian Kam and Shekhinah PR CEO A. Christopher Raj. Manchester United and ASEAN All-Stars are set to face off for the Maybank Challenge Cup, a post-season friendly, at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium at 8.45 pm tomorrow. During the 20-minute visit, Anwar discussed the Red Devils' travel and preparations for the match, as well as other football matters. Anwar, a hardcore Red Devils fan, was presented with a Manchester United jacket by the club representatives, which he donned straight away, while Khiev gave him a framed ASEAN All-Stars jersey signed by the team members. Manchester United arrived in Malaysia yesterday with a full squad, including goalkeeper Andre Onana; defenders Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; midfielders Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount; and forwards Alejandro Garnacho, Amad, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. The ASEAN All-Stars, comprising players from AFF member countries including Australia, is coached by South Korean Kim, who led Vietnam to the ASEAN Championship title earlier this year, and captained by Aguero.
Barnama
23-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Preparatory Meetings Reflect A Strong Desire To Take ASEAN-GCC-China Ties To A Higher Level
GENERAL By Vikneswaran Raman KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- Today's preparatory meetings to finalise the agenda for the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits clearly reflected a strong desire for a strategic cooperation among Southeast Asia, the six oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and economic superpower China. Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin told reporters here that officials were bent on preparing documents that would produce meaningful results to take cooperation among the three parties to a significantly higher level. 'Today's meetings reflected a strong collective commitment to produce concrete and meaningful outcome documents,' he told reporters after chairing the ASEAN-GCC-China Senior Officials Preparatory Meeting. He said discussions focused on formulating results that reflect both the achievements and future direction of strategic cooperation among them, especially taking into account the geopolitical challenges in the international arena. Besides meetings to prepare for the ASEAN summit, the officials finalised documents for the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit to be held on May 26 and 27 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here. The preparatory meetings today began with meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) Meeting and the ASEAN Senior Officials Preparatory Meeting in the morning, followed by the ASEAN-GCC Senior Officials Preparatory Meeting in the afternoon. He said the ASEAN-GCC Summit is expected to yield two key documents, namely the Joint Statement and Joint Declaration, while the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit will produce the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit -- both of which bode well in achieving balanced and mutually beneficial outcomes that enhance regional stability and prosperity.
