KUALA LUMPUR, 12 September 2025 – Malaysia hosted the 16th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium in Kuala Lumpur under the theme Accelerating Inclusive and Sustainable Connectivity: Synergising Sectors for Equitable Futures. The Symposium served as a platform for robust dialogue on aligning ASEAN Connectivity initiatives with the region’s goals of sustainable and inclusive growth, among others. The Symposium gathered around 124 participants from ASEAN Member States, dialogue partners and development partners, international organisations, private sector, academia and civil society.
H.E Ambassador Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, Chair of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), opened the Symposium by highlighting ASEAN’s successes in connectivity, from vital cross-border infrastructure to advancements in digital innovation. She reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to advancing ASEAN’s connectivity agenda, and emphasised the need for a collaborative and unified approach among different sectors to build an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr. Lim Chze Cheen, Director of the ASEAN Connectivity Division at the ASEAN Secretariat, underscored ASEAN’s priorities and commitment to building a future-ready and resilient region for the implementation of the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan, in support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
In his pre-recorded opening remarks, H.E. Tetsuya Watanabe, President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), underscored inclusivity and sustainability as the foundation of the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan, highlighted digital transformation and energy security as urgent priorities, and reaffirmed ERIA’s continued support for advancing ASEAN’s connectivity journey towards Vision 2045.
The Honourable Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia delivered the keynote address for the Symposium. He reaffirmed connectivity as the driving force of ASEAN’s future and called for a holistic approach to integration by strengthening institutional coordination across different pillars of the ASEAN Community. The Honourable Datuk Mohamad also underscored the importance of people-to-people connectivity, calling it the “heart and soul” of the ASEAN community, which builds bridges of understanding and forges a shared identity, creating a community bound by trust, empathy and a common purpose. He highlighted Malaysia’s priorities for ASEAN connectivity to ensure the benefits of progress reach every citizen, emphasizing the importance of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement empowering MSMEs and the ASEAN Power Grid providing clean energy for all.
The Symposium featured three panel discussions, focusing on the ACSP 2026–2035, sustainable infrastructure, and digital connectivity. Discussions highlighted cross-sectoral collaboration, innovative financing for resilient infrastructure, and strategies to bridge the digital divide and foster responsible digital innovation.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Azhan Mohamed Yasin, Deputy Director General of ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat commended the Symposium for bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss ways to advance inclusive and sustainable connectivity. He also underlined that the outcomes will provide valuable input for the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan (ACSP) and contribute to the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Since its inauguration in 2010, the ASEAN Connectivity Symposium has served as ASEAN’s flagship platform for engaging stakeholders to advance the connectivity agenda. As 2025 marks the final year of implementing Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, the Symposium plays a crucial role in reflecting on the progress and lessons learnt from MPAC 2025 which will inform and advance ASEAN’s connectivity agenda through the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan in the coming years.