Asean community enhances opportunities, shared prosperity
Asean community enhances opportunities, shared prosperity
The 13th edition of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute's (ASLI) Asean Leadership Forum (ALF) was held in Vientiane from August 6 - 7, with the support of Axiata Group the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) in Laos and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).
The forum gathered together over 300 participants, including state leaders, ambassadors, public intellectuals and the international business community.
The forum featured high-level panel presentations, a presentation of the Asean Lifetime Achievement Award, ministerial roundtable discussions, sideline meetings and networking sessions. Lao Prime Minister, Mr Thongloun Sisoulith delivered the opening address at the forum.
The conferment of Asean Lifetime Achievement Awards to three very important figures in Asean political life was one of the significant highlights of the event.
Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, were the recipients of these Asean Lifetime Achievement Awards to recognise their enormous contribution to the region.
Ambassador of Malaysia to Laos, Dato' Than Tai Hing received the award on behalf of YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Notably, Samdech Hun Sen, is known for his renowned contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Cambodia for the past 30 years as Prime Minister.
He in particular played a significant role in bringing peace to Cambodia through the Paris Peace Agreement and was also the Leader who brought Cambodia into Asean. Today, he is the longest serving leader in Asean.
YAB Dato' Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi has been an active youth leader, businessman and politician for over 30 years. He had been a corporate Chairman of several publicly listed companies and had contributed to youth development as well as Parliamentary affairs as a back bencher before becoming a deputy minister, minister and now Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. He is honoured for his contribution to regional security cooperation and youth development.
Aung San Suu Kyi is recognised for being a democracy icon in Myanmar and in Asean for several decades. Her struggle for democracy has inspired many. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and has contributed to national reconciliation. She is also honoured for women's leadership and for her lifetime struggle for democracy and justice.
Over the past 12 years, the ALF has been widely recognised as a high powered forum, providing timely opportunities for critical discussions of the strategic challenges faced by Asean.
It has successfully brought together government, business, civil societies and thought leaders to feel the pulse of Asean and the tempo of Asean development.
The forum helped define a roadmap of vision for Asean communities and that the deliberations at the ALF can be very useful inputs and feedback for the leaders.
This year is a critical year for Asean, under the Lao chairmanship, as it marks the first year of the implementation of the Asean Community that is mutually built on the Asean Security Community, Asean Economic Community (AEC) and Asean Socio-Cultural Community.
Accepting and acting upon the collective responsibilities to achieve the Asean Blueprint 2025 will require strong political commitment from each of the respective state members, coupled with adequate investment in financial resources. The forum was one of the catalysts towards achieving the Asean Blueprint.
Tan Sri Michael Yeoh CEO of ASLI, believes that after twelve years, the ALF has grown to become the premier annual event bringing together government, corporate sector leaders, entrepreneurs, think tanks and academics across the region.
The forum provides a strategic platform to maximise opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and integration within the region. This was an important means to promote improved public and private partnerships along with civil societies to ensure development gains are equitably shared, and leave no one behind.
