00:00Several leaders of ASEAN member states said that the regional grouping must work to enhance
00:06its influence to ensure peace and regional stability amid rising geopolitical tensions.
00:12Nikondad Palangkun, a spokesman for Thailand's foreign ministry,
00:16expressed confidence that the bloc can play a formidable role in international affairs.
00:22We are living in a very fast-paced, fast-changing geopolitical architecture.
00:30ASEAN has to be dynamic. ASEAN has to be adaptable to all these changes. Looking ahead,
00:41ASEAN has to be more pronounced in its
00:48endeavor, more pronounced in such a way that it is noticeable by the international superpower.
00:59Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said it is crucial for ASEAN to remain united
01:05and adaptable if the bloc is to maintain and promote peace and stability. He said there are
01:10key areas, including artificial intelligence, where ASEAN has the potential to be a force
01:16regionally and even globally. On the other hand, IC's Yusuf Ishak Institute Senior Fellow
01:22Thangsu Moon said that while ASEAN remains crucial in navigating complex regional challenges,
01:28the bloc is long overdue for a makeover. He pointed out that the foundations ASEAN operates on
01:35are based on the Declaration of Bangkok signed in 1967, nearly 60 years ago, and questioned if
01:42the bloc is still fit for purpose. However, Manalo played down the need for ASEAN to reinvent itself.
01:50I don't know if it needs to reinvent itself, but ASEAN should certainly, I think,
01:55see how we can be responsive to the developments that we now face,
02:01which were not there, issues or situations which were not there 20 years ago.
02:07ASEAN Secretary-General Khao Kim Horn said the bloc will continue to build bridges between all
02:13Indo-Pacific nations and explore ways to keep U.S.-China tensions from spilling over and destabilizing the region.
02:21But the ability to undertake dialogue, consultations, and to sort out our differences,
02:29this is something that we should never overlook. And the way we engage with our partners
02:38in transparency, inclusivity, and openness have built a lot of trust.
02:46Natasha Biest, FMT News.
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