KUALA LUMPUR: Asean member countries must put its peoples' aspirations at the centre of its community building efforts and to make Asean relevant and a tangible reality to all.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said all 10 Asean member countries governments must priorities good governance, transparency, higher standards of living, sustainable development, the empowerment of women, as well as provide greater opportunity.
"Key to what we need to do in ensuring we have a 'People-Centred Asean' is putting our citizens at the heart of Asean.
"We must raise awareness of our association's history and achievements and explain what we hope to do in the future, but also as people of Asean," he said at the Asean 50th anniversary celebration here, today.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said the 'Asean Way' had brought stability and prosperity to the region, adding that many have said it was a far more suitable model for the bloc and other developing nations, than those of other regional associations that are now finding themselves troubled by division.
Asean is now recognised as a primary driving force in the regional political, security and economic architecture, said Najib, adding that the Asean Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit had brought together major powers to negotiate and discuss important issues of the day.
"It is Asean that is leading and driving forward the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which will bring opportunities to nearly half the world's population and which represents 30 per cent of the global gross domestic product.
"At the same time, we have maintained the spirit of friendship, taking decisions by consensus, and recognising the sovereignty of the individual countries.
"We unite in Asean but we don't interfere in the internal affairs of our neighbours," he added.
He also described the 50th anniversary as an important occasion for himself as his late father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was the deputy prime minister at the time, was one of the five Asean founders who signed the Bangkok Declaration.
Asean is made up of 10 countries including Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.
