ASEAN NEEDS TO TRANSFORM TO STAY RELEVANT, SAYS NAJIB

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), April 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak said Monday that Asean will need to transform itself in order to
ensure its relevance for future generations.

In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that young people must feel a
sense of community, a sense of belonging and commonality.

Najib said this was the reason why Asean leaders at the grouping's last
Summit in Thailand had focused on the importance of Asean Connectivity.

"We believe that a more connected region will enhance regional integration.
Connectivity covers not only physical linkages but also financial and
socio-cultural ties, including tourism, cultural exchanges and movement of
people. This calls for a convergence of ideas," he said.

Najib said a high level task force was developing a master plan for Asean
Connectivity and member countries were looking forward to receiving a bold,
comprehensive master plan from it in October.

The Prime Minister said this in his keynote address at Axiata's 7th Asean
Leadership Forum at Sunway here Monday.

Asean groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Najib said Asean Connectivity could boost trade, investment, tourism and
development which would narrow development gaps and facilitate people-to-people
contacts, thus contributing to Asean community building.

"I believe that this community-building, this sense of Asean consciousness,
will allow governments, the private sector and our people to work closely
together. It's like a three-legged stool, we need all three legs for the stool
to be strong," he said.

In addition, Najib said Asean must continue to have a strong external
orientation, pointing out that meaningful constructive engagements with
external partners would help the regional grouping to maximise the benefits.

Najib said other regions and countries wanted to expand their engagements
with Asean such as the European Union (EU), Japan, China, South Korea, India,
the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
-- BERNAMA