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View all search resultsASEAN should move beyond rigid rivalry between major powers
The true strength of the AOIP regional framework lies in practical cooperation across sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, and economic security, ASEAN secretary general said.
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ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn delivers a keynote speech at the inaugural ERIA-ASEAN ASEAN Outlook on Indo Pacific Lecture in Jakarta on July 9, 2026. The inaugural speech was hosted by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia's (ERIA) School of Government. (Courtesy of ERIA/-)
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ountries in the region were called to move beyond rigid rivalry between major powers, focusing instead on active engagement and independent decision-making, while remaining open to working constructively with all partners, a regional leader said on Thursday.
“This approach is articulated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which offers an inclusive framework for practical cooperation and affirms our commitment to openness, inclusivity and rules-based cooperation,” ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said.
“As the region navigates geopolitical competition, economic fragmentation, and maritime supply chain vulnerabilities, exemplified by disruptions at global choke points, the true strength of the regional framework lies in practical cooperation across sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation and economic security.”
Speaking at the inaugural ERIA-ASEAN AOIP Lecture, Kao highlighted that ASEAN and Japan have already successfully addressed approximately 81 percent of the action lines in their joint Implementation Plan, proving that lasting regional order is built on the ability of different cooperative visions to find a common purpose.
The lecture, hosted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) through its School of Government (SoG), centered on the AOIP, a framework adopted in 2019 that guides how ASEAN engages with the wider Indo-Pacific region through openness, inclusiveness, dialogue and mutual respect.
Through this new lecture series, ERIA aims to connect high-level policy dialogue with in-depth research, helping the region navigate today's geopolitical changes together.
ERIA SoG dean and managing director Nobuhiro Aizawa highlighted the growing importance of ASEAN having a stronger voice in shaping regional and global affairs, and the need to reinforce the Indo-Pacific as a space for dialogue, cooperation and inclusive engagement.
