ASEAN Community Vision 2045 Charts Path For Resilience, Inclusivity -- Sec-Gen
According to him, the new vision reflects ASEAN's commitment to long-term resilience, inclusivity, and continued cooperation with external partners.
'Ten years ago, under Malaysia's leadership, ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. This year marks its 10th anniversary, and now, leaders are embarking on a 20-year vision.. doubling the timeframe and ambition,' he said during a pooled media interview here today.
Kao said the ACV 2045 is underpinned by four strategic plans covering the Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community, and ASEAN Connectivity.
'It is not just a vision on paper. These four strategic plans are designed to guide ASEAN on how to prioritise its work while upholding unity, solidarity, and ASEAN centrality,' he said, adding that the roadmap also recognises the need to work closely with external partners, including dialogue, sectoral, and global partners.
Kao said the ACV 2045—or the Vision—takes into account both the challenges and opportunities presented by global megatrends and aims to provide a realistic and strategic response over the next two decades.
'This document is forward-looking and strategic, acknowledging the shifts in geopolitics, digitalisation, demographic change, climate risks, and other pressing issues. It provides clarity on how ASEAN should navigate its future,' he emphasised.
On ASEAN's increasing engagement with the the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China, particularly through the upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, Kao said the trilateral framework opens the door for greater synergy and new opportunities for economic cooperation.
'Each region has its own strengths. ASEAN has always sought to consolidate existing partnerships while also identifying new areas where it can capitalise on shared interests,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Agrofood sector set for major reforms under 13MP
THE 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has big ideas for the agrofood sector. High time, we say. It has been treated as a stepchild since the country transitioned to manufacturing in the 1980s. That should change by 2030, when the 13MP reforms the sector, leading to RM58 billion in value creation. Self-sufficiency rates are also being scaled up to 80 per cent for rice, 98 per cent for fisheries, 83 per cent for fruits, 79 per cent for vegetables, 140 per cent for poultry, 123 per cent for eggs and 50 per cent for beef and buffalo meat. Ambitious? Yes, given that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has to hit the targets within five years, on top of resolving numerous issues plaguing the agrofood sector. Surely, an unenviable task. Land is a big ticket item, with most of what is available being devoted to industrial crops such as oil palm and rubber, because they are more profitable. In 2020, 7.6 million hectares of arable land was used for agriculture, of which 5.2 million was dedicated to industrial crops. Little wonder, our Asean neighbours' agrofood products are everywhere. Former director of Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Rozhan Abu Dardak, provides another reason why this is so in his article published in the Food and Fertilizer Technology Centre Agricultural Policy Platform website on April 14: Vietnam dedicated 33 million hectares for rice cultivation. Thailand 9.2 million hectares, Indonesia 10.6 million hectares and the Philippines 5.6 million hectares. What about Malaysia? Of the 996,950ha dedicated to the agrofood sector, only 373,383ha is being used to cultivate rice. The rest is used for growing fruits, other food crops and vegetables, the last, a measly 64,220ha to work on. If that is not enough, the agrofood sector has to compete with industries and housing for land. More land for agrofood should certainly be a reform to aim for. There is one reality our policymakers often miss. Malaysia is a land of small things. Like the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that dominate the country's economy, so do small-scale farms. According to Rozhan, more than 90 per cent of Malaysian farmers own small plots of land, averaging 2.5ha per person. Logically, bigger means better yields. But that doesn't mean technology can't be made to work on small plots to increase yields. Like we have learnt to live with SMEs, we must learn to live with small-scale farms. What the agrofood sector reform should focus on are the farms themselves: the what and how of the trade. The skyrocketing prices of farm inputs, too, are making farming a challenging vocation. Farmers need help. Providing subsidies to those who deserve it is one way. The 13MP's move to incentivise young agroentrepreneurs takes the reform to a good place. We are a nation of old farmers, most of whom are in their 60s. At that age, farming is a struggle. Malaysians will be keeping a keen eye on the agrofood sector reforms, because what happens in the farms will determine whether or not we have home-grown food on the table.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
King's historic state visit to Russia underscores deepening bilateral ties, says Ambassador
MOSCOW: The state visit by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, to Russia from Aug 5-10 has been described as the highlight of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, said Malaysia's Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai. He said the visit is the highest-level ever made and the first by a Malaysian head of state to Russia since diplomatic relations were established in April 1967. "His Majesty's state visit, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, is a recognition of the five decades of diplomatic ties with Malaysia, which was among the earliest Asean countries to establish ties with the then Soviet Union. "This visit also reflects the crucial role of the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the context of international relations,' he told Bernama here on Sunday (Aug 1) in conjunction with Sultan Ibrahim's state visit. Cheong said the visit will begin in Moscow, where His Majesty is scheduled to hold an official meeting with Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace. Both leaders are expected to discuss potential cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, higher education, technology and innovation, people-to-people ties, digital transformation, agriculture and food security, as well as regional and international issues. "This highest-level visit will certainly have a high impact in increasing the momentum and positive trend of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Russia. "It sends the message that Malaysia is serious and committed to efforts to strengthen and improve bilateral relations with Russia in all fields, particularly strategic cooperation and people-to-people ties,' he said. Sultan Ibrahim is scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Tuesday (Aug 5) and will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Kremlin on Wednesday (Aug 6), before holding an official meeting with Putin and attending a state banquet hosted by the Russian President. His Majesty is also scheduled to receive an audience from the Russian Automotive Technology Development Company as well as the Tochka Kipeniya Technology and Innovation Hub. On Friday (Aug 8), Sultan Ibrahim will travel to Kazan, the fifth largest city in Russia, to receive an audience from the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, at the Kazan Kremlin. Both parties are expected to discuss potential collaboration in the trade, investment, halal industry sectors and agricultural technology. His Majesty is also scheduled to attend a reception ceremony hosted by Minnikhanov and visit the Kazan Helicopter Plant to observe the manufacturing operations of civilian, defence and rescue helicopters. Russia is currently Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner among European countries and 28th globally, with bilateral trade valued at RM11.46bil (US$2.48bil) in 2024. For the period January to June 2025, Malaysia-Russia trade volume was recorded at RM4.13bil (US$945.7mil). — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
KTMB reaffirms commitment to Johor on ETS expansion
KTMB said it is working with the relevant contractors and authorities to ensure its ETS service from Segamat to Kluang will be ready as soon as possible, with trial runs currently under way. PETALING JAYA : Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) is committed to fully expanding its Electric Train Service (ETS) to Johor as soon as possible. However, the company said it will only be done in phases, after ensuring the safety and reliability of the service to the southern sector, Bernama reported. 'KTMB's primary responsibility is to ensure safety, reliability and readiness before opening any new segment to the public,' it said in a statement today. KTMB said it is working with the relevant contractors and authorities to ensure the next segment of its service, from Segamat to Kluang, will be ready as soon as possible, with trial runs currently under way. The three phases for the ETS extension in Johor are to Segamat, Kluang, and JB Sentral in Johor Bahru. The service currently runs from Padang Besar in Perlis to Segamat. 'The transport minister (Loke Siew Fook) had announced last March, when launching the service to Segamat, that the extension in the southern sector will be done in phases, depending on several critical technical milestones and regulatory approvals,' KTMB said. The company said it wanted to reassure the public of its commitment to delivering a safe, modern and transformative rail service for the southern corridor, following recent reports on the service being extended to Johor Bahru. KTMB said the ETS service to Segamat has been operating successfully since March this year, offering improved travel options and stimulating local economic activity. 'KTMB wishes to thank all passengers, local stakeholders and the public for their patience and continued support. We remain fully committed to making ETS travel to the south a success,' it said.
