Youth need to remain actively involved in ASEAN affairs. Youth must also focus on their vision for the future and participate in ASEAN’s ongoing work, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said.
He said this during his keynote address on ‘Cooperation, Collaboration, and the Youth: The Bedrock of Innovation and Sustainability’ at the Pro-Chancellor Arts Centre, Universiti Brunei Darussalam on Tuesday.
He added, “ASEAN leaders have committed to regular dialogues with youth, with annual meetings involving youth leaders from all 10 ASEAN member countries.”
Dr Kao also highlighted during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in 2023, youth leaders provided recommendations on four key areas. The areas were enhancing the regional ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship, improving digital literacy, accelerating inclusive digital transformation, and leveraging economic opportunities through digital platforms.
He also highlighted the importance of incorporating youth perspectives into ASEAN’s new Vision 2045 and strategic plans for its three pillars: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural. “As we finalise these plans, it is crucial to include the voices of the youth,” he added.
Dr Kao underscored the vital role of youth as future leaders, innovators, and influencers. “The landscape has changed dramatically with technology advances. It is important for our youth as the future leaders and change makers, educators, innovators and influencers.
Whatever role that you are playing, you have the responsibility to bring the ASEAN Vision 2045 to reality. In our previous generation, we did not have smart phones or computers.
Now things have changed dramatically, youth have the vital role to continue what is at stake at the moment,” he said.
“Continuous youth engagement with ASEAN leaders and ministers as well as other key players in ASEAN, is very important. By staying closely engaged, you will have a better understanding of how ASEAN works as a community. For ASEAN to continue its progress, we have to work closely with all partners particularly our external partners to make sure that all this mechanism will remain relevant,” he added. – James Kon
