16TH ASEAN CONNECTIVITY SYMPOSIUM 12 SEPTEMBER 2025

16TH ASEAN CONNECTIVITY SYMPOSIUM

12 SEPTEMBER 2025

Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN hosted the 16th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur on 12 September 2025. The Symposium was held under the theme "Accelerating Inclusive and Sustainable Connectivity: Synergising Sectors for Equitable Futures".

The symposium was officiated by YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. A total of 124 participants, comprising representatives from ASEAN Member States, Dialogue and External Partners, and stakeholders from the private sector and academia, took part in the Symposium to discuss the future direction of regional connectivity.

In his keynote address, YB Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that connectivity is the driving force of ASEAN's future, that would enable the region to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2045. He underlined that true connectivity went beyond physical infrastructure to include digital networks and regulatory frameworks, and called for a holistic approach to integration by strengthening institutional coordination across different pillars of the ASEAN Community. YB Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted 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.

The symposium consisted of three substantive sessions, namely: "ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026-2035: Advancing an Inclusive and Sustainable Regional Future", "Sustainable Infrastructure for a Resilient ASEAN", and "Digital Connectivity for an Inclusive ASEAN Economic Community". This year's Symposium provided a timely platform to reflect on the progress of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and to gather valuable input for the implementation of the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan (ACSP) 2026-2035.

The symposium focuses on ensuring that key connectivity deliverables, specifically advancing digital connectivity and establishing a more integrated regional power grid are inclusive, accessible, and support local innovation. A key focus is to address the barriers faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), such as limited access to affordable digital infrastructure and energy insecurity. The discussions are structured around key strategic goals of the ACSP, including sustainable infrastructure and digital innovation, while also considering major trends like climate change, supply chain reconfiguration, and urban expansion.

PUTRAJAYA

12 September 2025