VIENTIANE: Asean is poised to unveil its long-term strategy, the Asean Community Vision 2045, during Malaysia's chairmanship in May next year.
Laos' director-general of the Asean Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chatoulong Bouasisavath said the current chair, Laos, has been collaborating closely with Malaysia among others in drafting the vision.
"Asean is approaching the final stage of the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2025, which will end at the end of next year.
"Therefore, since two to three years ago, Asean started the process of development of the Asean Vision 2025, (and) we decided to have a longer vision now.
"During our chairmanship this year, we have worked diligently with Malaysia, the permanent co-shepherd of the drafting process, and all other Asean colleagues to develop four strategic plans," he said at the Asean Media Forum 2024 here yesterday.
He said the Asean Community Vision 2045 will be anchored by four strategic plans focusing on Asean's Political Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community, and Connectivity.
This declaration reflects the bloc's commitment to deepening regional integration, strengthening economic resilience, and addressing critical challenges, including climate change, biosafety, and supply chain disruptions.
The vision builds on the Asean Vision 2025, a 10-year declaration adopted at the 27th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November 2015.
Laos is this year's Asean chair, while Malaysia is set to lead the annual summit next year, scheduled in May.
Malaysia has held the Asean chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015, with each tenure seeing Malaysia play a crucial role in strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing Asean's economic integration.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when officially receiving the handover of the Asean Chairmanship last month revealed that Malaysia has selected the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability" to steer its leadership as it takes on the Asean chairmanship next year.
He said 2025 will be a momentous chapter for Asean as it would mark the 10th anniversary of the Asean Community's founding and embrace a new landmark – the Asean Community Vision 2045 – charting the course for Asean's shared future for the next two decades.