ASEAN Adopts Kuala Lumpur Declaration On A People-Oriented, People Centred ASEAN

LANGKAWI, (Kedah, Malaysia) April 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN leaders adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on A People-Oriented, People-Centred ASEAN, focusing to enhance cooperation in the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. They have agreed to continue establishing a people-oriented, people-centred and rules-based ASEAN community that includes all people, stakeholders and sectors of society. On political-security, the declaration stated that it would encourage the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights and other sectoral bodies to continue to have meaningful and constructive engagement with the relevant stakeholders. "This includes accredited civil society organisations in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with the Asean Human Rights Declaration," it said. In addition, the ASEAN leaders will further enhance judicial systems and legal infrastructure to maintain a peaceful and harmonious environment, that includes engagement with legislative and executive branches in the formation of the ASEAN Community. On the economy, ASEAN leaders vowed to provide an enabling environment, conducive to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business activities; access to the formal financial system and promoting public-private sector partnership. They pledged to encourage more engagement and interaction between ASEAN and business leaders including of SMEs. The declaration also called for the integration of, among others, elements of health, climate change, environment sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources. The initiatives also include proactive disaster risk reduction and management strategies, harmonious socio-cultural diversity in connectivity, higher productivity, sustaining economic development and building resilience in the region. The summit also favoured the promotion of an integrated, stable and prosperous regional economy, encompassing all sectors of society, as well as encourage women, elderly and youth participation in building a competitive, innovative and dynamic ASEAN. On the socio-cultural front, the ASEAN leaders vowed to ensure people had access to clean water, clean air, basic healthcare and other social services so that they may lead healthy and productive lives in order to contribute to the ASEAN Community. They want to enhance people-to-people contacts and awareness of the ASEAN identity among young people by increasing youth interaction and exchanges within ASEAN. The leaders also committed to enhance cooperation on disaster management and emergency response in strengthening disaster resilience at all levels and reducing vulnerabilities of affected populations. The ASEAN leaders also pledged to enhance cooperation with its dialogue partners and relevant external parties. -- BERNAMA