“Thailand’s Role in Strengthening ASEAN beyond 50: Inclusivity, Human Security and Sustainable Development”

The Association for Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was born 50 years ago with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. ASEAN’s Founding Fathers, including Dr. Thanat Khoman of Thailand and Mr. Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, came together to “through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom, and prosperity”. From an Association of five to a Community of ten today, ASEAN has emerged as a key regional organization that has helped build a foundation of peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. ASEAN’s importance and significance have been recognized by many of Dialogue Partners, organizations and, most recently, by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

But many people do not see ASEAN’s real potential. In the eyes of many, ASEAN comprises a series of “talk shop” meetings, a forum where our representatives at various levels meet, hold hands and have their pictures taken. Indeed during ASEAN’s formative years, ASEAN was seen as a “Paper Tiger”. How many people would really know that “behind the scene” were untiring efforts by all ten Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat to develop concrete programmes and initiatives to better the lives of people.

ASEAN touches on everything you can think of, from the moment we wake up until we sleep. From security, economic integration and regional connectivity matters, to sociocultural, and global issues. The ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community continue to work day after day to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

In short, ASEAN seeks to develop and reinforce a regional order of Southeast Asians, by Southeast Asians, and for Southeast Asians - - that will help promote enduring peace and prosperity, for our region and beyond. This important task will be undertaken not in isolation from the rest of the world but rather in partnership with it.

Because ASEAN is an open, inclusive, and outward-looking organization - - anchored on shared values, driven by common interests, and focused on building a people-centered Community where no one is left behind. And this is why ASEAN has always been the cornerstone of Thai- land’s foreign policy.

ASEAN at the age of 50, if compared to a person, is a mature and experienced adult ready to lend his or her experience and wisdom in the wider world. While ASEAN has had many accomplishments, it is worthwhile to reflect on what ASEAN has achieved and what should be done to make an even better and stronger ASEAN for the next generation.

When all is said and done, the key ingredient to ASEAN’s past success and a critical factor in ASEAN’s bright future is its people. So it is on people where the ASEAN Community should focus its efforts. In so doing, there are several important priorities that ASEAN should undertake.

First is inclusivity.

ASEAN should encourage the participation of people and groups, from all walks of life and from all regions, in community-building. Why?

Because ASEAN belongs to all people not just Governments. From children and youth to the elderly and persons with disabilities, ASEAN is all of the above. Regardless of religion, nationality, and ethnicity, all have a voice in the ASEAN Community. And regardless of education levels or disabilities, all should access to ASEAN mechanisms and information about ASEAN.

That is why Thailand attaches such importance to bringing ASEAN to the people and the people to ASEAN. We have launched a programme to build “ASEAN Libraries” in over twenty provinces throughout Thailand. We have included various organizations and groups, from youths to civil society organizations, in a regular dialogue to develop ASEAN’s policies.

And we have translated key ASEAN documents into braille, in Thai and English, as well as developed audio-tapes, that will allow a wider segment of the population to have access to information about ASEAN. After all, ASEAN is a Community for all, not for just a few.

Second is human security.

For an ASEAN Community to en- dure its most important resources - - its people - - must be protected and nurtured. People should have access to sufficient food, water and other resources for them to have productive lives and live in dignity. That is why ASEAN stresses the development of human resources, from youths to the labour force, from migrant workers to a growing active ageing population. This so that all can fulfill their potentials and, in so doing, contribute to a more dynamic and resilient ASEAN Community.

But the welfare of the people must also be protected from the challenges of illicit drugs, human trafficking, and pandemics, amongst others. That is why the promotion of human security is so critical to ASEAN’s success. Through Thailand’s initiative, we have made progress in trying to create a drug-free ASEAN, and the ASEAN NARCO Centre in Bangkok will be an important tool to help achieve this goal. Thailand is also taking the lead to enhance the welfare of the elderly and giving them the tools and opportunity to become a key part of the society. That is why we have launched an “Active Ageing” initiative that will help promote the human security of our ageing population. Indeed, Thailand is one of the few countries in the world to have a Ministry on human security.

Lastly is sustainable development.

Promoting sustainable development is not only a global commitment but also an important regional responsibility. For Thailand, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been at the top of its national policies. Thailand believes that sharing experiences and learning from one another could help countries achieve the global goal of SDGs. That is why ‘turning vision into reality’ on sustainable development was the main goal of our G77 Chairmanship last year and a main goal of Thailand in ASEAN now.

In February 2016, Thailand was honoured to be assigned as ASEAN’s coordinator on sustainable development issues. One of our priorities is to promote the complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

Since then Thailand has been working closely with other ASEAN Member States and friends outside of ASEAN, especially the United Nations and the World Bank, to synchronize efforts to meet both regional and global goals together. Thailand and UN ESCAP recently organized the High-Level Brainstorming Dialogue on Sustainable Development on 31 March 2017 in Bangkok, with participation from ASEAN Member States, Germany as the only Development Partner of ASEAN, and international organizations, to exchange views on how to set priority areas. Many projects were presented from the World Bank, UN ESCAP, UN Women and UNDP, including women economic empowerment, addressing malnutrition and stunting, and surveying the views of the grass roots of the ASEAN population on sustainable development.

ASEAN would have to focus on developing catalysts at the regional level that cut across the various sustainable development goals (SDGs) and better enable all of us to achieve several SDGs at the same time. Indeed, the G20 adopts a similar approach calling them Sustainable Development Sectors. The goals are the same: how to get the most of our limited resources to help the countries of the region achieve their sustainable development objectives, for the benefit of their peoples.

In summary, ASEAN will need to continue its people-centered agenda, beyond its fiftieth anniversary, if it wishes to continue to be relevant. Because without the active participation of the people, without the engagement of this ultimate stakeholder of ASEAN in its policy-making, ASEAN itself will be left behind - - and the people of Southeast Asia will turn elsewhere.

The Philippines was the key architect of a “caring and sharing society”, one of the most people-centered initiatives in ASEAN’s history. Together, the Philippines and Thailand, in partnership with ASEAN countries, can work to promote inclusivity, human security, and sustainable development in the ASEAN Community - - so that all may have a voice, and no one is left behind.

ASEAN@50 : For Now and Posterity.

Written by Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand