ASEAN Secretary General: People are at the center of regional integration process

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 | 23:04:28

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Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn called on all ASEAN citizens to contribute to the common effort towards realising a peaceful, prosperous, dynamic, resilient and people-centred ASEAN community.

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn.

The Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, affirmed that the people are at the heart of the regional integration process and that ASEAN’s success is measured by the tangible benefits that community-building efforts bring to the lives of the people. In turn, it is the people who ensure the longevity of the ASEAN Community.

On August 8, speaking at the ceremony to celebrate the 56th anniversary of ASEAN (August 8, 1967 - August 8, 2023), Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn called on all ASEAN citizens to contribute to the common effort towards realizing a peaceful, prosperous, dynamic, resilient, rules-based, people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN community.

Referring to the achievements over the past 56 years, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn said that ASEAN has developed into a full community with 10 member countries, plus Timor Leste joining as an observer according to the decision of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) in November 2022. ASEAN currently has a total population of more than 670 million people and a GDP of 3,700 billion USD, the 3rd largest in Asia and the 5th in the world.

Citing the forecast that ASEAN will become the world's fourth largest economy by 2030, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn affirmed that this shows ASEAN's great potential in bringing more opportunities and prosperity to the people of the region.

According to him, ASEAN's success would not be possible without the strong commitment and determination of member countries to cooperate towards regional integration and promote the process of building the ASEAN Community.

Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said that during Indonesia's Chairmanship in 2023 under the theme "ASEAN Stability: Growth Hub," ASEAN will strengthen cooperation to ensure its relevance in responding to regional and global challenges, while maintaining its economic momentum and prosperity for the benefit of people across the region.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that ASEAN needs to be able to become the center of regional and global economic growth, bringing more benefits to people in the region and around the world.

He affirmed that ASEAN has a “strong foundation” for this with high economic growth, a large population advantage and the world's confidence in ASEAN as the region with the best economic opportunity.

Finally, the Indonesian President called for taking advantage of the above positive momentum to turn ASEAN into the "future of the world," the "anchor" for world peace, stability and prosperity, and expressed his wish for relevant parties to unite and be determined to turn Southeast Asia into a region of peace, stability and prosperity./.

According to vietnamplus.vn

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