Co-chaired by Lao PDR and Malaysia, the 19th meeting of HLTF-ACV was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 10 December 2024. This meeting enabled the APSC to draft its strategic plan. The 19th HLTF-ACV meeting was co-chaired by Eminent Persons (EP) of Lao PDR and Malaysia, as the permanent shepherd Member State, and attended by eminent persons, high-level representatives and officials from the ASEAN member states, representatives from Timor-Leste as well as the ASEAN deputy secretary-general for APSC and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the Strategic Plans of the three Community Pillars and ASEAN Connectivity are expected to be adopted in 2025. An interface was had between the HLTF-ACV and the Chair of the High-Level Task Force for ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), the Co-Chairs of the ASCC AHWG, and the current and incoming Chairs of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC).).
In line with its mandate to undertake a comprehensive, participatory, inclusive, and holistic approach, the HLTF-ACV also had an interface with the ASEAN Youth Organization represented by the Managing Director, Ahmad Afryan. AYO exchanged views on how the Post Vision could meaningfully engage youth and how youth could contribute to shaping ASEAN’s future. Ryan highlights his intervention about the important following-up actions and monitoring and evaluation scheme “… it’s not only about giving the youth opportunity to speak, voice out our opinion and be heard., but rather it should be provided with clear information on how our input will be used to affect the output and/or the outcome.”
As the winner of the ASEAN Prize 2024, AYO also updated its works and contributions to the ASEAN Community Vision and provided recommendations concerning future priorities and challenges. Friendship, cordial, and candid dialogue took place during the meeting regarding emerging challenges and recommendations made by stakeholders as they relate to the development of the APSC Strategic Plan.
The draft ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Strategic Plan was also drafted by the high-level representatives during the 19th HLTF-ACV meeting. It had been completed to 98 percent at the end of the fifth reading. As part of the 20th HLTF-ACV meeting scheduled for January 2025, the ASEAN community pillar’s strategic plans will be discussed further, as well as deliberations on the timely completion of the strategic plans for their adoption at the 46th ASEAN Summit in May 2025 in Malaysia. AYO is committed to meaningfully participating, engaging, and contributing to the development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. So, we invite you to join AYO and collaborate to create a more meaningful impact.