The 6th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium Held in Kuala Lumpur

On 16 October 2015, the 6th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Symposium included three sessions, namely, Preparing a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda, Vision, Framework and Strategic Thrusts for a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda: Ideas and Proposals, and Stakeholder Perspectives on a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda. ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping was invited by the Malaysian host to attend the Symposium.

In the session of Preparing a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda, H.E. Ambassador Pradap Pibulsonggram, High-Level Task Force (HLTF) Representative to the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) of Thailand said that connectivity became the fourth driving force for ASEAN integration after the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. ASEAN countries demonstrated strong commitment for connectivity, and were docking national strategies with regional connectivity initiatives. He called on the dialogue partners for continued support to ASEAN. H.E. Ambassador U Min Lwin of Myanmar pointed out that 65 percent of the 125 measures of MPAC had been accomplished. According to the ADB, ASEAN would need about 600 billion USD for infrastructure in the next 10 years. He called on ASEAN countries to enhance sectoral coordination, accelerate internal signing and approving procedure and seek more financial support. Mr. Hoang Viet Khang, Director-General in charge of GMS Program of Ministry of Planning and Investment of Viet Nam, noted that the GMS focused on 3 Cs, namely, connectivity, competitiveness and community. The GMS 2002-2012 and 2012-2022 strategic frameworks had been formulated. The east-west, north-south and southern transport corridors were transformed into the economic corridors. GMS enjoyed huge potential. Mr. Lim Chze Cheen from ASEAN Connectivity Division of the ASEAN Secretariat said challenges of MPAC included how to translate regional connectivity initiatives into national strategies, make  projects business viable and give full play to Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

In the session of Vision, Framework and Strategic Thrusts for a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda: Ideas and Proposals, H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Hsu King Bee, Chair of HLTF on ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision, introduced the elements contained in ASEAN Political-Security, Economic and Social-Cultural Community blueprints, and stressed to reach balance between regional issues and national strategies. ERIA Chief Economist Fukunari Kimura introduced the Comprehensive Asia Development Plan 2.0 and called to ensure quality infrastructure.

In the session of Stakeholder Perspectives on a Post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda, APEC Secretariat Executive Director Alan Bollard introduced the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025. Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN H.E. Mr. Simon Philip Merrifield pledged Australian continued support to ASEAN connectivity through both bilateral and multilateral channels such as G20 and APEC. H.E. Ambassador Luc Vandebon, Head of the EU delegation to Malaysia said EU would provide substantial support to ASEAN connectivity and regional economic integration. Mr. Hiedaki Muzukoshi, Deputy Director-General for Global Issues of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, introduced the concept of quality growth, namely, sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth, and pledged that Japan would invest 110 billion USD in Asian infrastructure in the next 5 years. Deputy Director-General of South Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau of Foreign Ministry of ROK Ryu Jeong Hyun said the post-2015 ASEAN connectivity would include connectivity both inside ASEAN andbetween ASEAN and northeast Asia and the EU, which would make ASEAN go global.

In the evening of the same day, the Symposium was successfully concluded after extensive discussions. H.E. Dato’ Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, National Coordinator of Malaysia and Director-General of ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat, said in the closing remarks that the Symposium was fruitful and put forward many suggestions for post-2015 ASEAN connectivity blueprint.

During the Symposium, Secretary-General Yang exchanged views on ASEAN-China relations with Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to ASEAN, Ambassadors of ASEAN dialogue partners as well as other participants, and briefed on ACC’s work.