Malaysia PM: ASEAN brings stability, prosperity to region
The operation method of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has brought stability and prosperity to the entire region, said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on August 14 to celebrate the bloc’s 50th founding anniversary.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (Photo: Southeast Asia Globe)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The operation method ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has brought stability andprosperity to the entire region, said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at aceremony in Kuala Lumpur on August 14 to celebrate the bloc’s 50th founding anniversary.
PM Razak said ASEAN member nations have maintainedfriendly ties and mad decisions based on the spirit of consensus and respectfor sovereignty of each country.
The ASEAN nations have united together but have not interferedin each other’s internal affairs, he stated, adding that the bloc is nowrecognised as a primary driving force in the regional political, security andeconomic architecture, under which major powers negotiate and discuss importantissues through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS).
The Malaysian PM went on to say that ASEAN is leading anddriving forward the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), whichwould bring new opportunities to nearly half of the world’s population andpresents 30 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
With a combined GDP of 2.6 trillion USD, ASEAN is the world'ssixth largest economy, and is projected to become the fourth largest economy inthe world by 2030 at the latest, with some estimating the region will reachthat position by 2030, he noted.
Mentioning theASEAN Community, PM Razak said ASEAN works towards a community that ispolitically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible and thatthe key to a people-centred community is putting the citizens at the heart ofASEAN.
He stressed thatall ASEAN members must strive to make the Southeast Asian region more relevantto its people and make people think of themselves as ASEAN citizens.-VNA
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Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (Photo: Southeast Asia Globe) 
