Secretary General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh estimated that by 2030, ASEAN will be the fourth largest economy in the world.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 48th anniversary, which falls on August 8, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Monday, August 10.

"It is a great honor for me to welcome you today to celebrate ASEAN Day. After 48 years of evolution and development, we will realize the dream of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year," Secretary General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh said here on Monday.

After a period of development and evolution of 48 years, he stated that member states of ASEAN will realize the ASEAN Community, wherein people of Southeast Asia will be bound together in friendship, cooperation, peace, freedom and prosperity.

"In a region like Southeast Asia, which has diverse culture and history, member countries of ASEAN have seen success in every sector with common commitments through regional cooperation," he remarked.

According to Minh, the establishment of the ASEAN Community by the end of this year will bring in more opportunities for and benefit the people of Southeast Asia.

"When the barriers are removed, the national system will be more harmonious, and regional and global integrations will become stronger and more widespread," he affirmed.

Minh estimated that by 2030, ASEAN will be the fourth largest economy in the world.

In addition, he pointed out that the value of intra-ASEAN trade will increase by 2020, years after the ASEAN Economic Community is launched.

"However, ASEANs success will ultimately be measured on how the ASEAN Community benefits citizens in Southeast Asian countries," he noted.

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of a declaration by the founding members, which were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Seventeen years after the declaration was signed, Brunei Darussalam became a member on January 7, followed by Laos and Myanmar on July 23, 1997.

In 1999, Cambodia joined as the 10th member of ASEAN.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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