Inclusivity and Sustainability at Forefront of ASEAN Chairmanship: Malaysia
Malaysia is set to prioritize inclusivity and sustainability during its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, according to a Malaysian official.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized the importance of upholding the values that have contributed to the regional bloc’s success in navigating various challenges, including neutrality, dialogue, and regional cooperation, which have maintained stability in the region. His remarks came at an event promoting Malaysia’s logo and theme for its upcoming ASEAN chairmanship.
“I firmly believe that as a community, we have not only faced but overcome many shared challenges together through the decades, achieving this the ASEAN way,” he stated.
He noted that ASEAN’s pragmatic approach to managing geopolitical competition among major powers is increasingly viewed as a model for developing nations.
Malaysia will also advocate for enhanced intra-ASEAN trade and investment while ensuring that the bloc can take advantage of advancements in science, technology, and innovation, as well as the benefits of digital transformation.
With the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Malaysia aims to advance the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, outlining the strategic direction for the next two decades.
The logo features Malaysia’s national flower, the hibiscus, which is also found in other ASEAN countries, symbolizing the region’s cultural richness, unity, and identity. The colors—blue, red, yellow, and white—represent the primary colors of the flags of all ASEAN member states, with the ASEAN logo at the center reflecting the principle of ASEAN centrality.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially unveiled the logo and theme during the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN summits on October 11 in Vientiane, Laos, where Malaysia accepted the chairmanship from Laos.
Malaysia will officially assume the ASEAN chair on January 1, 2025. Established in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
