Articles Category: ASEAN Identity and Community Building

Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) walked into the headquarters of the Viet Nam Competition Commission (VCC) on 28 August 2025 with a clear mission: to strengthen consumer protection s

Inclusion as a buzzword has grown louder in recent years. While inclusive progress has already been made in some sectors, such as public service or transportation, attention should also be paid to inclusion in the private sector. Businesses have to pro

ASEAN Entities are accredited organisations that have been formally recognised by ASEAN for their commitment to support the regional bloc’s principles, goals, and initiatives. Article 16 of the ASEAN Charter specifically states: “ASEAN may engage with

From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, we spend much of our time staring at screens. The line between our digital and physical lives has all but blurred, shaping how we work, study, communicate with loved ones, shop, and even commute each day

Focusing on aligning regional efforts with global biodiversity goals, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), in partnership with the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency (NBCA) of Viet Nam, organised the Eighth ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference

The ASEAN region, endowed with extraordinary biological richness, stands at a defining moment in its sustainable development journey. Its terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems rank among the most diverse and productive on Earth. These ecosystems

This year, ASEAN has embarked on a momentous journey towards ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future—an ASEAN that is resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred. On the one hand, “Shared Future” refers to what is envisioned, which, as I said, is a resili

Ambassador Vicky Singmin shared her perspectives on ASEAN-Canada cooperation and outlined strategic partnership priorities for the coming decade, focusing on people-to-people connection and free trade partnership. She also emphasised Canada’s global le

MALAYSIA ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP 2025 INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY On 1 January 2025, Malaysia assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN for the fifth time, marking a decade since its last leadership role. Coincidentally, this year marks the end of the ASEAN Comm

Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket discusses the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Achievements under the Lao PDR’s Chairmanship theme, “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” She delves into the key achievements and initiatives implemented duri

On 11 October 2024, Ekkaphab Phanthavong officially completes his tenure as the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Before assuming his role at the ASEAN Secretariat, he was the Ambassador/Permanent Representative

With the adoption of the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, we continue to be in conversation with people in the region on their hopes and concerns for the future. The ASEAN aimed to involve various perspectives in this endeavour, reaching out extensively

A group of mothers and grandmothers from Wates village, Majalengka, West Java, who bear the financial responsibility of keeping their households afloat, have banded together to form Mother Bank. Co-created by the artist Bunga Siagian, 37, Mother Bank i

At 76, Ngai Hin Kwok knows every turn of the trail at Singapore’s MacRitchie Reservoir. On even-numbered days, he laces up his running shoes and moves along the familiar path beneath a canopy of green. On odd-numbered days, he trades his running shoes

Sixty-eight-year-old Vanda Ou leads the Cambodian Ageing Network (CAN), a platform uniting organisations and stakeholders to improve the lives of older people in Cambodia.

It was a sweltering day in Brunei Darussalam in early May 2025. The “feels like” temperature in areas such as Bangar and Pekan Tutong reaches as high as 44 degrees Celsius. The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department posted social media warnings an

Since its inception in 2007, Maya Dance Theatre (MDT) has been faithful to its philosophy: bridging the space between audience and artist to provoke thought and dialogue about pressing social issues. In 2018, MDT’s artistic director and co-founder, Kav