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ASEAN COMMUNITY VISION 2025

1. We, the Heads of State/Government representing the peoples of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to  as ASEAN), gather here today at the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to celebrate the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community 2015 and to chart the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

2. We recall the ASEAN vision of an integrated, peaceful and stable community with shared prosperity built upon the aspirations of and commitment to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Vision 2020, the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, the ASEAN Charter, the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) and the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations.

3. We are pleased that the positive progress made since 2009 in implementing the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community comprising the ASEAN Political- Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprints, as well as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and the IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity has led us to another important milestone in ASEAN development, namely, the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community 2015.

4. We resolve to consolidate our Community, building upon and deepening the integration process to realise a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN Community, where our peoples enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms, higher quality of life and the benefits of community building, reinforcing our sense of togetherness and common identity, guided by the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter.

5. We envision a peaceful, stable and resilient Community with enhanced capacity to respond effectively to challenges, and ASEAN as an outward-looking region within a global community of  nations,  while  maintaining  ASEAN  centrality. We also envision vibrant, sustainable and highly integrated economies, enhanced ASEAN Connectivity as well as strengthened efforts in narrowing  the development gap, including through the IAI. We further envision ASEAN empowered with capabilities, to seize opportunities and address challenges in the coming decade.

6. We underline the complementarity of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with ASEAN community building efforts to uplift the standards of living of our peoples.

 ASEAN Political-Security Community

7. Our ASEAN Political-Security Community by 2025 shall be a united, inclusive and resilient community. Our peoples shall live in a safe, harmonious and secure environment, embrace the values of tolerance and moderation as well as uphold ASEAN fundamental principles, shared values and norms. ASEAN shall remain cohesive, responsive and relevant in addressing challenges to regional peace and security as well as play a central role in shaping the evolving regional architecture, while deepening our engagement with external parties and contributing collectively to global peace, security and stability.

8. We, therefore, undertake to realise:

8.1.   A rules-based community that fully adheres to ASEAN fundamental principles, shared values and norms as well as principles of international law governing the peaceful conduct of relations among  states;

8.2.   An inclusive and responsive community that ensures  our  peoples  enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as thrive in a  just, democratic, harmonious and gender-sensitive environment in accordance with the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law;

8.3.   A community that embraces tolerance and moderation, fully respects  the different religions, cultures and languages of our peoples, upholds common values in the spirit of unity in diversity as well as addresses the threat of violent extremism in all its forms and  manifestations;

8.4.   A community that adopts a comprehensive approach to security which enhances our capacity to address effectively and in a timely manner existing and emerging challenges, including non-traditional security issues, particularly transnational crimes and transboundary  challenges;

8.5.   A region that resolves differences and disputes by peaceful means, including refraining from the threat or use of force and adopting peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms while strengthening confidence-building measures, promoting preventive diplomacy activities and conlict resolution initiatives;

8.6.   A region that remains free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as contributes to global efforts on disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear  energy;

8.7.   A community that enhances maritime security and maritime cooperation for peace and stability in the region and beyond, through ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms and adopts internationally-accepted maritime conventions and principles;

8.8.   A community that strengthens our unity, cohesiveness and ASEAN centrality as well as remains the primary driving force in shaping the evolving regional architecture that is built upon ASEAN-led mechanisms; and

8.9.   A community, in the interest of developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations, that deepens cooperation with Dialogue Partners, strengthens engagement with other external parties, reaches out to potential partners, as well as responds collectively and constructively to global developments and issues of common  concern.

ASEAN Economic Community

9. Our ASEAN Economic Community by 2025 shall be highly integrated and cohesive; competitive, innovative and dynamic; with enhanced connectivity  and sectoral cooperation; and a more resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred community, integrated with the global economy.

10. We, therefore, undertake to achieve:

10.1.  A highly integrated and cohesive regional economy that supports sustained high economic growth by increasing trade, investment, and job creation; improving regional capacity to respond to global challenges and mega trends; advancing a single market agenda through enhanced commitments in trade in goods, and through an effective resolution of non-tariff barriers; deeper integration in trade in services; and a more seamless movement of investment, skilled labour, business persons, and capital;

10.2.  A competitive, innovative and dynamic community which fosters robust productivity growth including through the creation and practical application of knowledge, supportive policies towards innovation, science-based approach to green technology and development, and by embracing the evolving digital technology; promotion of good governance, transparency and responsive regulations; effective dispute resolution; and a view towards enhanced participation in global value chains;

10.3.  Enhanced connectivity  and  sectoral  cooperation  with  improvements in regional frameworks, including strategic sectoral policies vital to the effective operationalisation of the economic community;

10.4.  A resilient, inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community that engenders equitable development and inclusive growth; a community with enhanced micro, small and medium enterprise development policies and cooperation to narrow the development gaps; and a community with effective business and stakeholder engagement, sub- regional development cooperation and projects, and greater economic opportunities that support poverty eradication; and 

10.5.  A global ASEAN that fosters a more systematic and coherent approach towards its external economic relations; a central and foremost facilitator and driver of regional economic integration in East Asia; and a united ASEAN with an enhanced role and voice in global economic fora in addressing international economic issues.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

11. Our ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2025 shall be one that engages and benefits the peoples, and is inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and dynamic.

12. We, therefore, undertake to realise:

12.1.  A committed, participative and socially-responsible community through an accountable and inclusive mechanism for the benefit of our peoples, upheld by the principles of good governance;

12.2.  An inclusive community that promotes high quality of life, equitable access to opportunities for all and promotes and protects human rights of women, children, youth, the elderly/older persons, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and vulnerable and marginalised groups;

12.3.  A sustainable community that promotes social development and environmental protection through effective mechanisms to meet the current and future needs of our peoples;

12.4.  A resilient community with enhanced capacity and capability to adapt and respond to social and economic vulnerabilities, disasters, climate change as well as emerging threats and challenges; and

12.5.  A dynamic and harmonious community that is aware and proud of its identity, culture, and heritage with the strengthened ability to innovate and proactively contribute to the global community.

Moving Forward

13. In order to achieve our ASEAN Community Vision 2025, we shall realise a community with enhanced institutional capacity through improved ASEAN work processes and coordination, increased effectiveness and efficiency in the work of ASEAN Organs and Bodies, including a strengthened ASEAN Secretariat. We shall also realise a community with increased ASEAN institutional presence at the national, regional and international levels.

14. We, therefore, task the ASEAN Community Councils to fully and effectively implement the commitment contained in the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together and to submit their reports to the ASEAN Summit, in accordance with the established procedure.

15. We pledge to our peoples our resolve to realise a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

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