Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on ASEAN member states to redouble their efforts to create a successful ASEAN Community, a declaration on the formation of which was inked by the ASEAN leaders here today.
"For the coming into being of the ASEAN Community does not mean that we have arrived at the end of the region-building process.
"Now the hard work of fully uniting and integrating under the three pillars of the Community has to be redoubled,” said Najib, the chairman of ASEAN 2015, when closing the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here.
Najib said the achievement and the establishment of the ASEAN Community, comprising the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars, could not happen overnight.
"This is why we are giving ourselves the space and time to achieve these goals, and have set 2025 as the target,” he said, adding that the ASEAN Community would begin this new journey on Jan 1, 2016.
Najib pointed out that the ASEAN leaders were serious on the implementation of the ASEAN Community (2009-2015) with various plans and programmes having been put in place.
"ASEAN ministers, the ASEAN secretary-general and all ASEAN organs are tasked with mobilising the necessary resources to ensure that the steps we have agreed to take are put into action.
"The secretary-general will monitor progress and report annually to the ASEAN Summit. Our aim is to build an outward-looking Community that plays a responsible and constructive role globally,” he said.
Sharing his thoughts, Najib said this Community should be resilient, peaceful, secure and responsive to the needs of their peoples and the common good which would be founded on fundamental freedoms and social justice.
He said the Community should also embrace the values of tolerance and moderation and share a strong sense of togetherness, common identity and destiny.
"That is no small ambition. I am confident, however, that together we will achieve this.
"And, together, we will deliver on our pledges to further improve the lives of the peoples of ASEAN, and to realise an ASEAN that is truly of the people, and for the people," Najib said.
On Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year, Najib said ASEAN had maintained its resolve to promote regional peace and security through moderation, dialogue and constructive exchanges.
Touching on the economic front, Najib said ASEAN has had an impressive economic growth over the last 10 years, and despite the difficulties facing the global economy, this region was still expected to post a very healthy growth rate of 4.9 per cent next year.
"We have strengthened the bonds of our brotherhood by coming to each other's aid when human or natural disasters have struck. And we have set ASEAN on a path that should see our Community become the fourth largest economy in the world within the coming decades.
"None of this would have been possible without the commitment and continuous support from all ASEAN member states, as well as from our dialogue partners," he said.
Najib drove home the point that ASEAN had proved to the world that this bloc of nations can be Asia-Pacific’s most competitive regional grouping and an emerging force on the international stage.
The Malaysian prime minister then handed over the chairmanship of ASEAN to Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos.
"I trust that under your able leadership, the ASEAN Community will continue to prosper, and I assure you of Malaysia’s unwavering support during your chairmanship next year," he said.
Besides the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the ASEAN leaders today also inked the 'Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together', a document charting the way forward for the community over the next 10 years.
Bernama
Sun Nov 22 2015
NAJIB: Now the hard work of fully uniting and integrating under the three pillars of the Community has to be redoubled. - BERNAMA pic
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: MB nafi rumah terbuka Selangor langgar akta
Penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Peringkat Negeri Selangor yang diadakan pada Sabtu malam di pekan Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) di sini, tidak melanggar Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 (AKPR).
Pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 cederakan warga emas
Seorang pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 selepas mengaku bersalah mendatangkan kecederaan kepada seorang warga emas.
Amiruddin nafi rumah terbuka langgar peraturan pilihan raya
Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari menafikan dakwaan bahawa penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri oleh kerajaan negeri di pekan Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) pada Sabtu, melanggar peruntukan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - Anwar
Malaysia dalam misi meneroka pelbagai peluang ekonomi dan menarik pelaburan baharu pada Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh, Arab Saudi yang akan berlangsung dua hari bermula hari ini.
Polis Jerman rampas 4 Bugatti Veyron
Jerman merampas empat kereta model Bugatti Veyron yang jarang ditemui dari kemudahan simpanan persendirian di Munich, Jerman, yang dikaitkan dengan skandal 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), menurut laporan media Jerman.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.77 berbanding dolar AS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Mutawif pimpin jemaah 'istimewa' tunai umrah guna tongkat
Menjadi impian umat Islam di seluruh dunia termasuk golongan kurang upaya untuk menjejakkan kaki ke tanah suci Makkah bagi menunaikan ibadah haji dan umrah.
Pelajar maut motosikal bertembung kereta
Seorang pelajar maut selepas motosikal yang ditunggangnya bertembung dengan sebuah kereta dalam kejadian di Marang.
Cef ternama Singapura, Tariq Helou meninggal dunia pada usia 29 tahun
Pemergian cef Helou mengejutkan seluruh komuniti kulinari di Singapura.
EPL: Man United sama hebat dengan skuad tercorot liga
Penjaga gol Manchester United, Andre Onana menjadi punca buat pasukannya kehilangan kemenangan menentang Burnley.
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Malaysia muncul destinasi utama pengembangan perniagaan di ASEAN - Kajian UOB
Malaysia telah muncul sebagai negara paling penting dalam ASEAN untuk diceburi perniagaan, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh Kajian Tinjauan Perniagaan UOB 2024 (PKS & Perusahaan Besar).
Malaysia perlu masa untuk teliti cadangan visa bersama enam negara ASEAN
Malaysia memerlukan lebih masa untuk meneliti cadangan Thailand mengenai program visa bersama dengan enam negara ASEAN lain.
Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara
ASEAN tegaskan semula komitmen bantu Myanmar cari penyelesaian dengan mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif melalu pelaksanaan Konsensus Lima Perkara.
Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS
Pada 6 petang, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7785/7815 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7680/7730 semasa ditutup pada Jumaat.
Malaysia sedia jadi hab pusat untuk Pejabat Keluarga di ASEAN
ASEAN semakin mendapat fokus daripada firma pejabat keluarga berikutan kestabilan ekonomi dan pertumbuhan di rantau ini.
LRT Pulau Pinang: Mobiliti, pemangkin pelancongan dan tidak ancam perkhidmatan feri
Pelaksanaan projek LRT Laluan Mutiara Pulau Pinang, dilihat sebagai pengangkutan alternatif penduduk negeri ini bagi mengatasi masalah trafik.
Jenama “Kuasa Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui Asia” bakal lonjak Sarawak ke persada global - Abang Jo
Abang Johari Tun Openg berkata, Sarawak berpotensi menjadi hab inisiatif peralihan kepada penggunaan tenaga tanpa karbon ketika dunia bergerak ke arah -net-zero- menjelang 2050.
ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar
Usaha proaktif akan membolehkan Malaysia membentuk persekitaran yang aman dan inklusif dalam rantau ASEAN.
Jadikan ASEAN platform pembelian ubat secara pukal - Dr Noor Hisham
Usaha berterusan perlu dilaksanakan kerajaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai platform pembelian ubat-ubatan dan peralatan kesihatan menerusi perolehan secara pukal.