ASEAN STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, CONNECTIVITY - MOHAMAD HASAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- ASEAN is stepping up efforts to boost economic integration and regional connectivity, with a stronger focus on turning its plans and agreements into real action, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said more than 80 deliverables, including memorandums of understanding (MoUs), are expected to be discussed and announced during the 47th ASEAN Summit, reflecting the bloc’s commitment to advancing its ASEAN Vision 2045.

“The main thing for ASEAN is that we want to ensure this vision for 2045.  Malaysia will be the permanent shepherd for that. We want to make sure that the agenda on the ASEAN Community 2045 is addressed in phases,” he told reporters during his visit to the ASEAN Summit’s media centre here today.

He said the first phase of the Vision 2045 agenda will focus on connectivity, while the second will emphasise enhancing intra-ASEAN economic activities.

“The intra-ASEAN trade is still very low, less than 25 per cent. We want to make sure that ASEAN, or Malaysia for that matter, does not depend too much on our traditional partners. We want to enlarge our market and our friendship,” he said.

Mohamad said ASEAN is also keen to engage with emerging economic blocs such as BRICS and will reconvene discussions under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which last met in 2020.

As part of its economic agenda, ASEAN will also enhance its trade framework with China through the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 3.0.

“We want to streamline trade and investment between China and ASEAN member states. We don’t want to undercut each other. We must speak the same language and offer the same incentives so that ASEAN as a bloc will have a stronger voice and presence on the international stage,” he said.

Regarding the ASEAN Vision 2045, which aspires towards the “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” theme, Mohamad said inclusivity and sustainability remain key challenges but noted that the bloc is moving towards greater unity.

“Before we can speak with one voice, we have to put everything at par first. Not economically at par, but in terms of inclusivity and sustainability, that is our theme this year,” he said.

He added that the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member during the summit marks a new chapter for the grouping.

“ASEAN was formed based on a political platform to protect against external dominance, but now it is more focused on economic cooperation,” he said.

Malaysia, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, will host the 47th ASEAN Summit from Oct 26 to Oct 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The summit is expected to be one of the largest meetings in the bloc’s history, serving as a crucial platform to foster deeper collaboration while addressing regional and global challenges in a cohesive and inclusive manner.

This is the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the ASEAN Chair since the bloc’s inception in 1967, with previous chairmanships in 2015, 2005, 1997 and 1977.

The Philippines will take over the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia in 2026.

-- BERNAMA