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Youth, technology to drive ASEAN's future competitiveness: leaders

Xinhua, May 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

ASEAN's future competitiveness will be driven by growth dividends the region is reaping from rapid technological development and youthful demographics, the leaders of four members of the regional grouping said in the opening session of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Thursday.

Fifty years since its founding and despite the more volatile global environment, ASEAN has managed to maintain stable and strong peace and security with good cooperation among its members, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen told participants.

"ASEAN must have an integrated agenda aligning its strengths to seize opportunities and address unexpected problems, promoting education and skills development and addressing issues such as inequality and cyber security," he said.

"We should invest in human capital," said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is the current chair of ASEAN. "The Philippines, along with other South-East Asian countries, is in a demographic sweet spot. The youth is a key sector in which we must invest."

Meanwhile, Duterte cautioned that while young people represent the great opportunities ahead for ASEAN, it is necessary to ensure their well-being and safety by tackling the drug threat in the region.

"We need to take a committed stand to dismantle and destroy the illegal drugs trade apparatus. We must realize our commitment to a drug-free community," he said.

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said: "We need quality education aimed at developing labour skills to increase effectiveness and efficiency."

Private enterprise will play a critical role if ASEAN is to meet the challenges ahead, he noted.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: "To maintain dynamic growth, we cannot rely on natural resources and unskilled labour but have to strive towards sustainable development and better quality growth so we can move up the value chain."

More than 700 business, government and civil society leaders from 40 countries and regions are participating in the 26th World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Phnom Penh from May 10 to 12. Endit