The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been commended by the Asian Vision Institute (AVI) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Cambodia for its vital role in advancing economic integration, regional peace, and mutual understanding and trust among its member states.
AVI Executive Vice-President Chheng Kimlong said, “I would like to stress the importance of ASEAN as a testament to the power of multilateralism and regional cooperation in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.”
“During the last decade, the international landscape underwent a rapid change, from power rivalry to economic fragmentation, climate crisis, global pandemics and other non-traditional security issues.
“The response of ASEAN to these changes has determined its ability and resilience to navigate the region in the evolving multiplex world,” he said.
“For more than 50 years, ASEAN has played a critical role in promoting regional peace, enhancing economic integration, and fostering mutual understanding and trust among its member states,” he said.
Kimlong said this during the launch of a special publication on ASEAN’s Critical Assessment and Practical Reform by AVI and KAS Cambodia in Phnom Penh yesterday.
According to Kimlong, the book aims to investigate possible chances for ASEAN as a regional community, provide some recommendations for additional doable changes ASEAN can think about pursuing, and address the current conditions of affairs. It also critically evaluates the advancements and limitations of the regional group.
This book is another contribution to ASEAN because the relevance of ASEAN in global affairs cannot be overlooked due to its political, economic, and social significance, he said.
“The Southeast Asian region is geographically connected with the Indian Ocean to the west and the South and East China Sea to the east.
“These sea passages, not to mention the natural resources underneath them, carry a magnitude of economic importance, for one-third of the world’s seaborne trade happens in Southeast Asian waters,” he said.
“However, no endeavour is without its challenges, so this book’s publication seeks to address those issues. The depth of expertise assembled in this book reflects the shared commitment to the vision of a stronger, more resilient and inclusive ASEAN,” Kimlong added.
Denis Suarsana, KAS Director Indonesia and Timor-Leste, said that in the contemporary geo-political and geo-economic backdrop, with myriad challenges facing the region in general and the organisation in particular, like the volatile situation in the South China Sea, the realignment of great power dynamics, increased militarisation, the crises in Myanmar, the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula, the impact of the Ukraine War, energy insecurity, and economic factors, ASEAN finds itself at the crossroads of interspersing lanes.
“Under the circumstances, it is contingent on the able and adept leadership to follow a balanced and judiciously blended policy of realism and liberal institutionalism, emphasising community-building, regional cooperation, and enhanced dialogue and consultations with China and other stakeholders.
“As ASEAN embarks on its tryst with revitalising the community-building process, the organisation must maintain the precarious balance between organisational centrality and inclusiveness of the member states while adhering to the basic organisational ethos in its sojourn through trials and tribulations,” he said.
Ouch Richard, author of the ASEAN’s Critical Assessment and Recommendation, said that as of 2023, ASEAN responses have slowly escalated, stemming from the 2021 Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, on which the military junta had initially agreed.
“The Consensus iterated an immediate cessation of violence, the opening of dialogue among all parties, mediation facilitated by a special envoy and ASEAN Secretary-General, granting of access to humanitarian assistance through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and a planned visit by the special envoy (ASEAN 2021),” he said.
Source : Khmer Times