ASEAN Summit Historic Landmark Meeting - Husni Zai

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore, Husni Zai Yaacob has described the recently concluded 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as a landmark meeting in the history of ASEAN. "Just a few days ago in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN achieved a new milestone in its journey by signing two most important declarations: 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the ASEAN 2025. "As Chairman of ASEAN, Malaysia is pleased with this significant development as ASEAN moves forward. "The Summit which was held in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 21 and 22 will be remembered as a landmark meeting in the history of ASEAN," he said in his address at the ASEAN Gala Night held at the Embassy of Indonesia on Friday evening. He said there was no doubt the newly-signed declarations by ASEAN leaders reflected the continuity of the building process of the ASEAN Community, along with demonstrating the leaders’ commitment to consolidate ASEAN integration in the next 10 years. Husni Zai said the ASEAN Community’s primary objective was to turn the region of 625 million people with a combine gross development of US$2.6 trillion (US$1 = RM4.22) into a single market and production base by eliminating remaining trade barriers and harmonised standards. He noted there were challenges in implementing the ASEAN Community. He said: "As (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib Razak highlighted during the opening ceremony: 'How do we make ASEAN something that touches the everyday lives of our peoples? How do we make our citizens feel, directly, personally, that the possibilities of the Community we will establish tomorrow are theirs?'". -- BERNAMA