ASEAN adopts Kuala Lumpur Declaration to navigate regional long-term direction
The declaration champions the bloc’s vision of technological shift based on resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centered community amid global uncertainty.
THE HANOI TIMES — Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have adopted declaration which envisions path for next 20 years amid geopolitical complexities.
Leaders of ASEAN member states at the signing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Vision to 2045. Photo: ASEAN
At the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Malaysia on May 26, the 10 member states adopted a landmark roadmap by unveiling the Kuala Lumpur Declaration: ASEAN 2045 – Our Shared Vision, a strategic document that charts the bloc’s direction over the next two decades amid rapid technological change, climate challenges, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The declaration was formally endorsed at the 46th ASEAN Summit, hosted in Malaysia’s capital under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“This historic document sets the course for ASEAN’s next two decades,” Ibrahim said during the signing ceremony. “It envisions a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered community that stands as the epicenter of growth in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Kuala Lumpur Declaration is built on six strategic pillars, focusing on: Political and security cooperation; Economic integration; Socio-cultural development; Institutional strengthening; Digital transformation; and Connectivity.
These areas aim to foster deeper regional integration, strengthen ASEAN institutions, and promote inclusive growth that uplifts all sectors of society, particularly women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
“With the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, we are forging a legacy of unity, purpose, and shared destiny for ASEAN,” Ibrahim wrote in a statement. “The work ahead is immense, but so is our resolve to build a region that is secure, sustainable, and proudly ASEAN.”
In his address to ASEAN leaders, Anwar cautioned that while technological evolution brings opportunities, it also presents risks. “If left unmanaged, emerging technologies may deepen inequality, displace livelihoods, and outpace our regulatory frameworks,” he warned.
“We must not only embrace innovation; we must learn to govern it together and with care,” he urged, stating the need for responsible digital governance and shared technological standards.
Describing the declaration as a “shared blueprint”, Ibrahim emphasized that it was “anchored in realism, animated by resolve, and made possible by trust.”
The Kuala Lumpur Declaration represents ASEAN’s collective ambition to become a cohesive and forward-looking regional force, navigating a complex global landscape while holding firmly to the principles of unity, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
With the adoption of this declaration, ASEAN takes a bold step toward securing its role as a pillar of stability and growth in the Indo-Pacific with 2045 as its strategic year.
