ASEAN Leaders Approve ACV 2045 Strategy for Long-Term Peace and Progress

At the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 26, 2025, Southeast Asian leaders adopted the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045, a comprehensive roadmap to foster peace, stability, and sustainable development across the region over the next two decades. This vision, encapsulated in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration titled “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future,” builds upon the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and outlines strategic plans across four key pillars: political-security, economic, socio-cultural, and connectivity.

The ACV 2045 emphasizes the creation of a cohesive, people-centred ASEAN that upholds diversity, human rights, and social justice. It aims to enhance regional integration, promote inclusive economic growth, and strengthen resilience against global uncertainties. Key initiatives include advancing the ASEAN Power Grid and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to bolster economic and infrastructural connectivity.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, serving as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, highlighted the importance of unity and proactive engagement in addressing challenges such as trade tensions and regional conflicts. He advocated for a unified ASEAN approach in dialogues with global partners, including the United States and China, to navigate economic headwinds and geopolitical complexities.

The adoption of ACV 2045 marks a significant step in ASEAN’s commitment to a sustainable and inclusive future, reinforcing its centrality in regional and global affairs.