KUALA LUMPUR: The next two decades will be critical in shaping Asean’s direction, especially with the inclusion of Timor-Leste as the bloc’s 11th member, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He was commenting on the new Kuala Lumpur Declaration-Asean 2045: Our Shared Future, a new vision which was endorsed in the 46th Asean Summit here today.
Zahid said the future of the region must be anchored in stability, inclusivity and a renewed focus on preparing the younger generation to lead.
“The next 20 years will be crucial in shaping Asean with the inclusion of Timor-Leste as the 11th member state. Importantly, we must also view Asean as a region.
“Asean is now ranked fourth in terms of economic strength, but we must further reinforce this through regional programmes, not just among member states, but as a collective, stable region.
“If there are still internal challenges faced by any member state, they must be resolved in the spirit of Asean unity,” he said during a doorstop after the signing ceremony of the declaration.
Zahid emphasised the need to prioritise the 680 million people of Asean, particularly Generation Z and Alpha, by ensuring that their future is shaped by a new educational ecosystem and greater labour mobility across borders.
“We must structure their future with openness and shared growth, including strengthening employment opportunities region-wide, so we can meet global challenges together,” he said.
He also urged the region and the global community to reject unipolar worldviews in favour of a more balanced global order.
“We want the world, including Asean nations, to declare that unipolarity must not exist. Instead, a multipolar approach should prevail, allowing Asean to remain a safe and neutral region,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
