While ASEAN is in a favourable position for continued growth, escalating geopolitical tensions pose potential risks to economic recovery. As such, ASEAN needs to remain focused on strengthening cooperation to make it the centre of economic growth and social development.
This was said by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Indonesia yesterday.
The monarch also called on the need to embrace new ideas that contribute to long-term competitiveness and resilience of the region.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, His Majesty said ASEAN has continued to leverage on advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As such, the monarch welcomed the proposal to establish an ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement as it will provide a strong foundation for a secure and interconnected digital economy, thus bringing more opportunities and confidence to the region.
His Majesty also highlighted climate change as a global challenge requiring urgent collective action, thus extended appreciation to other ASEAN member countries for supporting the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change that will be hosted in Bandar Seri Begawan.
During the retreat session of the ASEAN Summit later in the day, His Majesty expressed concern on the intense competition among major regional and global powers that could lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations, further escalating regional tensions and affecting the growth and prosperity achieved over the decades.
His Majesty said ASEAN needs to take a unified stance in upholding centrality to maintain peace and prosperity in the region as well as remain neutral amid major power competition as the monarch believes that taking sides will only weaken regional architecture.
As such, His Majesty applauded Indonesia’s efforts in implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including convening the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum that brings together regional partners for further collaboration, displaying the association’s commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive regional architecture.
The monarch also commended Indonesia as ASEAN Chair and countries neighbouring Myanmar for their efforts in holding dialogues with relevant parties which have resulted in positive developments in Myanmar.
Such engagement, His Majesty believes, are in line with the Five-Point Consensus that aims at helping Myanmar find a long-term and inclusive solution that is “Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led”.
