JAKARTA: Asean and the United States should promote volunteer programmes involving varsity students to encourage better understanding of each other's cultures.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said volunteer programmes were an effective form of people-to-people links that could develop character. He said when volunteering, youths experience different cultures and such pursuits instil the principles of democratic accountability in society.
"On the people-to-people linkages, (Malaysia) has a number of students within universities in the United States - a venture which we continue to support.
"We believe one of the initiatives that could be done is on volunteerism to connect our citizens to promote greater understanding and acceptance of each other, including the principle of democratic accountability," he said in a speech at the 11th Asean-US Summit at the Jakarta Convention Centre.
The summit was attended by Asean leaders as well as US vice-president Kamala Harris. Anwar also lauded the US's decision to establish an Asean-US Centre in Washington DC, and welcomed the Asean-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He said such developments were critical for countries committed to the practice of democratic accountability in the region.
"We would also like to suggest additional cooperation for deeper economic ties in trade, investment framework agreements and expanded economic engagements.
"We need support with foreign direct investment to internationalise our micro, small and medium enterprises' green growth for climate sustainability and efficient land use for food security."
He said Asean encouraged the US to partner with the bloc to advance the region's digital transformation, including digital infrastructure, connectivity and 5G as well as data policy and regulations.
On energy, he said Asean, which aims to produce 23 per cent of its primary energy from renewables from 2025 needed support from the US to make this goal a reality.
