Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said the declaration aims to strengthen collaboration, experience-sharing and policy dialogue to improve youth development and sports governance across the region.
“Southeast Asia faces shared challenges in building competitive sports systems, sustainable industries and resilient youth communities amid rapid global change,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
The first point recognizes sport’s strategic role in promoting peace, unity, sustainable development, public health and Southeast Asia’s global visibility.
Participants also pledged to strengthen cooperation in sports development to promote solidarity, mutual understanding and constructive engagement among communities.
Second, ministers agreed to strengthen high-performance systems through better athlete development, coaching, sports science and talent identification.
They also stressed enhancing regional multi-sport events, including the SEA Games, to support athlete development toward higher-level international competition, while considering national contexts.
Third, participants agreed to explore joint approaches and information-sharing in hosting major international sporting events to build regional capacity.
Fourth, they reaffirmed sports participation as a foundation for talent development, public health, tolerance, social inclusion, peace and regional integration.
Fifth, ministers emphasized youth empowerment through stronger partnerships to enable young people to promote peace, tolerance, inclusivity and sustainable development.
Sixth, they recognized youth as key drivers of resilience and innovation, committing to empower all youth, including vulnerable groups, through sports and policies promoting critical thinking and responsible digital engagement.
The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials from Southeast Asian countries.
Attendees included representatives from Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor-Leste, along with delegates from Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Related news: RI calls ASEAN sports ministers to develop world-class sports event
Related news: Indonesia sets sights on 120 golds at 13th ASEAN Para Games
Translator: Aloysius Lewokeda, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
