The 8th of August has always been a festive and eagerly anticipated day at the ASEAN Secretariat: the ASEAN Day Celebration. The theme of the 58th ASEAN Day, “Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN Future,” reflects Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Forging a master strategy in the next 20 years for a regional grouping characterised by diverse backgrounds and confronted by complex megatrends and challenges is a herculean endeavour. However, the Leaders of ASEAN were aware of the rough road that lay ahead; they chose as their Eminent Persons diplomats who had an enduring passion for ASEAN and a wealth of experience that would guide them in forging this historic document. Two former Secretaries-General, current and former Vice Ministers, and ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting Leaders, along with other senior officials, comprised the august High-Level Task Force (HLTF), tasked with drawing a roadmap for ASEAN to replace the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, which is set to expire on 31 December 2025.
The world is undergoing unprecedented transformation. In the decades ahead, ASEAN must harness its economic foundation, leverage its diversity, and cultivate future-ready talent to navigate crucial crossroads.
This issue explores ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and Strategic Plans for the Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Communities, along with ASEAN Connectivity, will address global megatrends and regional priorities in the years ahead. This milestone issue also features insights from the Eminent Persons of ASEAN Member States, Senior Officials, and the ASEAN Secretariat, who helped craft the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. It includes voices from people across ASEAN who share their hopes for the future, and a special report on the 58th ASEAN Day celebrations.
