Commitment to inclusion and sustainability

Malaysia has chosen the theme “Inclusiveness and Sustainability” for its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, a special year as the bloc celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community with three pillars.

Malaysia đảm nhiệm vai trò Chủ tịch ASEAN 2025: Cam kết về bao trùm và bền vững

In 2025, ASEAN celebrates 10 years of the ASEAN Community with 3 pillars.

Taking on a role in a context where the world in general and Asia in particular are facing a series of geopolitical challenges, increasing global tensions - from strategic competition to climate issues, Malaysia's goal is to promote cohesion by creating momentum for ASEAN's common vision, bringing member states closer together, and strengthening mutual trust.

This is especially meaningful when in 2025, ASEAN prepares to welcome Timor-Leste as its 11th official member. In addition, 2025 is also the year to create new vitality for the ASEAN Community when leaders officially adopt the ASEAN Community Vision to 2045.

In addition to assessing 10 years of building the ASEAN Community to move towards the ASEAN Vision 2045, Malaysia's priorities in 2025 include working together to address challenges; promoting shared prosperity, leaving no one behind; consolidating and linking the bloc, promoting integration and connectivity of ASEAN economies; enhancing trade and investment, expanding economic cooperation with partners for inclusive and sustainable growth; building a resilient ASEAN in the digital aspect...

This means pursuing an inclusive approach in developing the ASEAN economy and ensuring that minority groups fully benefit from inclusive goals, stressed Malaysian Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry (MITI) Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul.

In other words, ASEAN is moving towards inclusive development, a development perspective with the key message of ensuring equal development opportunities for all, especially disadvantaged groups, creating equal opportunities for everyone to participate in and enjoy the fruits of the development process.

To do this, the government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has identified the digital economy agreement as a platform to leverage and create impact for the ASEAN economy. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, affirmed that as ASEAN Chair, Malaysia aims to digitize and prioritize the ASEAN power grid as part of its efforts to support intra-regional trade growth.

He stressed Malaysia’s commitment to intensifying digitalization efforts to make ASEAN a strategic and competitive digital hub, thereby promoting intra-regional trade amid complex geopolitical developments. Specifically, through technology development, accelerating digital transformation and engaging in the digital economy to create inclusive growth in ASEAN.

In 2023, ASEAN will be the world’s fifth largest economy with a GDP of $844 billion and a total population of 677 million. The association’s digital economy is forecast to grow from $300 billion to $2 trillion by 2030.

To advance this goal, countries are focusing on enhancing the convenience of digital transactions through the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).

DEFA is expected to have a significant impact on the ASEAN economic landscape over the next decade by creating a cohesive digital market. The initiative will facilitate cross-border trade, promote innovation and potentially bridge the digital divide between member states, enhancing regional competitiveness.

However, the implementation of DEFA poses significant challenges due to differences in the level of digital infrastructure development, legal regulations and economic disparities among ASEAN countries.

Addressing these issues will require significant investment and a balanced approach to technological advancement and cultural integration, ensuring that all member states benefit equitably from the digital economy.

Along with the obvious benefits for trade among ASEAN member states, the spillover effects will be huge for the entire region. The framework is also expected to drive growth for the region in future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and cybersecurity.

In addition, Malaysia prioritizes the development of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, ensuring that it is aligned with the overall goals of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

According to Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary-General for Trade, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 will continue after the end of AEC 2025. Unlike previous frameworks, this vision will last for 20 years but will be implemented through 5-year strategic phases to adapt to the rapid pace of economic and technological development.

Regarding regional issues and major country relations, Malaysia, the Chair, advocates strengthening cooperation with major partners, including Japan, China and the US, on important security issues affecting the region, such as the crisis in Myanmar or tensions in the East Sea.

In addition, it aims to assert ASEAN’s centrality in an increasingly divided world and a changing geopolitical landscape. ASEAN’s resilience and important role in this multipolar world will depend on its ability to adapt to new realities while remaining faithful to the fundamental principles of cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, peaceful coexistence, non-interference and respect for international law.

In 2015, during Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN, leaders of the 10 member countries signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Community Vision 2025, with the theme "ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together".

The overall goal of the ASEAN Community is to build ASEAN into a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, and outward-looking Community; operating in accordance with the law and oriented towards the people.

This year, the ASEAN chairmanship returns to Malaysia and with a commitment to be “inclusive and sustainable”, the ASEAN 2025 chair wants to reaffirm the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a community united, united, shared common responsibilities and people-oriented.

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