BANGKOK (Bernama): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday (June 23) attended the opening of the 34th Asean Summit, themed "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability".
During the event, Asean chairman Thailand Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan o-cha laid out his vision for the 10-nation regional grouping.
In his opening statement, Prayuth said the kingdom would take forward the good work and initiatives of the previous chairs in the endeavour "to realise the dreams that we all have set out and to ensure that the peoples of Asean, present and future, can deal with the challenges that come and truly benefit from Asean".
He said Thailand's chairmanship reflects Asean's dream of creating a people-centred Asean community that leaves no one behind and ensures that the people live in a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.
He also said that Asean member countries should take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enhance their competitiveness and build immunity to the negative effects of disruptive technologies so as to advance towards a "Digital and Green Asean".
Prayuth called on the member countries to strengthen partnership through deepening cooperation both within Asean and with its external partners.
He said this is to reinforce Asean centrality in the region and enhance Asean's role in addressing important regional and global issues. - Bernama
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