ASEAN vows to shore up unity and centrality

Leaders pledge efforts to uphold bloc's position as center of regional growth

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ended this week's summit by committing to build a "resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centered" regional bloc and economic center in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

This commitment was highlighted in the ASEAN Concord IV, a key document adopted on Thursday by ASEAN leaders after they concluded the summit in Jakarta.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has complimented ASEAN for its work to mitigate the climate crisis and advocating peace and sustainable development.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, chairperson of the ASEAN Summit this year, said in a statement that the ASEAN Concord IV consolidated the organization's efforts to ensure that ASEAN "matters to our people and for the region, and remains an epicenter of growth" in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

At a concluding news briefing, Widodo said ASEAN leaders stressed attention to the interests of the common people, stronger economic cooperation, and protection of human values in Myanmar.

"Matters that touch on the interests of the people have become the interest of leaders," he said, adding that countries are to take strict measures to protect migrant workers and against human trafficking.

The leaders have also agreed to be part of the global electric vehicles ecosystem and to strengthen transactions in local currencies and the intra-regional connectivity of digital payments.

ASEAN will stick to its Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar and "ASEAN must engage all stakeholders" as inclusivity must be firmly maintained by ASEAN, he said.

Southeast Asia is among the world's fastest-growing regions. The International Monetary Fund forecasts global economic growth to slow to 2.7 percent this year. Economic growth in ASEAN, however, is expected to surpass the world's average growth.

Firm commitments

ASEAN leaders have likewise adopted the Declaration on ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue that focuses on the promotion and protection of human rights. The Declaration on ASEAN as an Epicentrum of Growth reaffirms the region's move to strengthen resilience against future shocks, leverage new growth drivers and embrace a forward-looking, future-proof ASEAN agenda.

Further adoptions include the Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises, ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, among others.

The leaders adopted the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the 28th Session of Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in line with their commitment to global climate action.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with Timor-Leste expected to become the 11th member.

In a news conference on the sidelines of the summit, Guterres noted the role of more than 5,000 peace-keepers from ASEAN member states that serve around the globe.

"I commend ASEAN member states for their vital role in building bridges of understanding," Guterres said.

"Our world is stretched to the breaking point by a cascade of crises: From the worsening climate emergency and escalating wars and conflicts, to growing poverty, widening inequalities and rising geopolitical tensions."

On global climate change, Guterres mentioned again his call for a Climate Solidarity Pact that aims to push all big emitters to make extra efforts to cut emissions and encourage wealthier countries to mobilize financial and technical resources to support emerging economies.

In response to a media query on ways to solve the Myanmar conflict, he said the UN fully supports the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and fully supports initiatives of the Indonesian presidency of ASEAN.He is hopeful that ASEAN will be totally committed to finding a political solution to the Myanmar crisis.

The five-point consensus comprises an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special ASEAN envoy to facilitate dialogue, the provision of humanitarian assistance and a visit by the envoy to Myanmar.

Leonardus Jegho is a freelance journalist for China Daily.