ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn praised the growing synergy between China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the strategic plans of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in enhancing regional connectivity, expressing optimism about deeper collaboration in the years ahead.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Jakarta, Kao provided examples of how the alignment of the BRI with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 has significantly enhanced connectivity, a key priority for the association, and brought real benefits to local communities.
Kao underscored the importance of connectivity for ASEAN countries, noting that the synergy between the two initiatives has already made a meaningful impact across the region.
He also stressed that connectivity will remain a central pillar of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, a 20-year vision towards building a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centered ASEAN.
"It has been happening already. Connectivity is a very important priority for ASEAN. That's why we have the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity as the master political activity [plan for] 2025. Of course we will have new one soon. It will be part of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Under this 20-year vision, we will have four new strategic plans, one of which would be on the ASEAN connectivity," Kao said.
The secretary-general pointed to major infrastructure projects that have already been implemented under the BRI, including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia, and the China-Laos Railway.
He noted that these projects have significantly improved transportation and benefited local populations, expressing hope that future initiatives will continue to strengthen connectivity within the region and between ASEAN and China.
"[Let's]come back to the issue of the real projects. What are considered real projects? Projects that have high impact on public goods. The Jakarta-Bandung speed train. Now this is a public good project, [it] will benefit the people of Indonesia, will benefit the people of ASEAN, will benefit the visitors, the tourists that come to Indonesia, the same thing we talk about the expressway in Cambodia from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. The same thing, I understand that the speed train has been built in Laos as well. Now we've been riding on train moving from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, for example. Because there used to be a lot of meetings now in Luang Prabang, we have to take speed train. [It] usually takes about a few hours, but it's very convenient. So, I think it's good that we have to do more to connect ASEAN countries, [and] also connecting ASEAN and China," Kao said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ASEAN chief hails key role of BRI in boosting connectivity among Southeast Asian nations
