KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Asean member states must not take regional peace for granted but should instead work collectively to use the current stability to strengthen unity and ensure lasting peace for the peoples of Asean.
Vietnam's Representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Nguyen Trung Thanh said that Asean must foster a culture of peace at all levels — both within the association and within communities — to ensure that peace remains inclusive and sustainable.
"The challenges to peace in Asean and the world at large are mounting. I believe the beauty of Asean, as well as its success story spanning several decades, can guide us in our continued path and approaches to working together to prevent conflict.
"And we must do even more to transform these challenges into opportunities to ensure inclusive partnership and resilient futures for all of us.
"We (Vietnam) look forward to having a stronger partnership within Asean, and we have to re-energise the partnership to make the most of the peaceful time and space that we have now," he told Bernama and RTM today.
Meanwhile, on regional issues and threats, particularly those affecting Asean member states, Singapore’s Representative to the AICHR Eugene Tan said that conflict prevention and resolution must be regarded as essential tools for achieving Asean's long-term objectives, including the Asean Community Vision 2045.
Stressing the importance of returning to Asean's core values, including consensus-building, mutual trust, and regional cooperation, he said mainstreaming peace efforts could lead to stronger social cohesion and build more resilient societies across the region.
"When we look at Asean, we sometimes forget that Asean is about conflict prevention and conflict resolution," Tan said.
He added that Asean should reflect on the Bangkok Declaration, which brought together original members that were once deeply suspicious of each other, and focus on conflict prevention and resolution, not just as goals, but as tools to achieve greater unity.
The Asean Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration, was signed on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, establishing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
It was signed by the five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
The declaration outlines the aims and purposes of Asean, primarily focused on regional cooperation to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in Southeast Asia, while also promoting regional peace and stability.
— Bernama
