Many ASEAN meetings have gone unreported, but that does not mean officials are not working, according to the secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, during the “Why ASEAN Matters: Navigating Our Shared Future” event on March 30th.
“A lot of people do not know that ASEAN conducts so many meetings, many negotiations, they are not reported in the media. The fact they are not reported in the media does not mean they don’t exist, the fact they are not in the spotlight does not mean that they are not working” said Dr. Kao Kim Hourn
In his address, he offered insights into the crucial significance of ASEAN. He also said that several vital meetings and negotiations have occurred, yet they remain completely unknown to the general public and the media.
Dr. Hourn revealed that he came to Thailand to bolster the presence of ASEAN centres and to emphasise the vital role of Thailand as an integral part of the ASEAN community. In his address, Dr. Kao emphasised the important priorities of ASEAN for the coming years, which include fostering community building and enhancing awareness of ASEAN as a powerful entity. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of connectivity, underscoring the need to promote tourism and encourage greater travel among citizens of ASEAN nations, without the hassle of visa requirements, for up to 30 days.
During his address, Dr. Hourn emphasized the presence of both internal and external challenges, which ASEAN must navigate. These challenges include both new and long-term issues that require the chair’s vision and wisdom to address.
One of the significant internal challenges that ASEAN faces is the situation in Myanmar, which prompted an emergency leaders’ meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the meeting, the leaders agreed to offer assistance to Myanmar while refraining from interference.
Dr. Hourn also mentioned other internal challenges, such as cyber security and the projected aging of the Asian population, which require proactive planning for the future.
On the external front, ASEAN aims to increase internal trade, invest more in tourism and double the amount of international trade by 2025. Dr. Hourn also highlighted the ongoing issues between ASEAN and China and the need to expedite the negotiations on the code of conduct (COC). Additionally, Dr. Hourn noted that the Ukraine-Russia war, although outside the region, significantly impacts ASEAN.
Additionally, Dr. Kao highlighted the immense interest among member states in advancing the ASEAN digital economy, as an initial study predicts that it could contribute about US$1 trillion to the economy by 2030. In fact, the Economic Minister has already commissioned a comprehensive study, with the Boston Consulting Group, to explore the vast potential of the digital economy and how ASEAN can leverage it for growth and prosperity.
According to Dr. Kao, ASEAN is actively striving to enhance various aspects, ranging from environmental issues to economic growth. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that several important meetings and negotiations are being carried out without being publicised in the media.
When asked by a journalist how ASEAN plans to improve communication and ensure that the general public is aware of their work, Dr. Kao emphasised that some negotiations are still ongoing and cannot be reported immediately. He added that, since ASEAN works on a wide range of issues and frameworks simultaneously, there is always a lot of news happening. Nonetheless, ASEAN will make every effort to communicate as much as possible, to ensure that people understand the benefits of ASEAN.
By Truong Khanh Thi Nguyen
