Asean leaders endorse search for novel ideas on 50th anniversary

GENEVA: The Asean heads of government participating in the World Economic Forum on Asean meeting in Phnom Penh in May have endorsed a proposal to study new ideas for the Asean organisation on its 50th anniversary.

The Forum’s Asean Regional Strategy Group (RSG) – consisting of 26 Asean chief executive officers, government ministers and academics – presented the plan to the President of the Philippines and the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

All four welcomed the proposal, and Rodrigo Roa Duterte, president of the Philippines and chair of Asean in 2017, invited the RSG to present the study and the ideas it contains at the next Asean heads of State meeting in Manila in November.

“On its 50th anniversary, the Asean organization has made significant progress, not least in fostering a region of peace and stability that is nurturing rapid economic development,” said Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, chairman of CIMB Group in Malaysia, and chair of the Asean RSG.

“But new challenges, especially the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, suggest that regional integration in South-East Asia – and the implementation of the Asean Economic Community in particular – should be accelerated to boost economic resilience.”

Justin Wood, head of Asia Pacific and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum, added: “The study will be produced under the leadership of the World Economic Forum.

“The idea is to examine different regional integration models around the world, such as the EU, NAFTA, Mercosur, GCC and others, with a view to identifying novel ideas for the Asean regional grouping.

“The study will also examine closely how the technological disruptions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution change the imperatives for, and character of, regional cooperation. Issues such as how the Asean organisation makes decisions, how it is funded and how it implements policy will all be considered.”

Also during the meeting in Phnom Penh, the RSG shared the results of a survey of 23,700 Asean young people between the ages of 18 and 22 for their views on Asean and their prospects.

Among the key findings include 69 per cent of Asean youths expect to have a better life than their parents. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of Asean youths are aware of the Asean and understand its goals.