UC Takes Look at Future of ASEAN Community

By Soy Sophea

The University of Cambodia (UC) has conducted a Dr. Handa Eminent Lecture on “Challenges and Prospects for Building the ASEAN Community by 2015”. The Lecture was held on August 7, under the presidency of Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, President of UC, Personal Advisor to Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

“It is very good chance for Cambodian students to learn more and practice the theories they study at The University of Cambodia,” said Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

Ambassador Agus Tarmidzi, Senior Special Advis

or, Department of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Indonesia and Special Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Timor Leste, the guest speaker of the lecture, talked about the beginning of ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations). But mostly he gave the students a glimpse of the future by talking about the goals of ASEAN.

The ambassador spoke about what the key pillars of the ASEAN community in 2015 should be: “Security, economic, and social and cultural cooperation.” He continued to say that the ASEAN Community, 42 year after it was established, faced challenges as the global economic crisis. “By working together in a strong association as ASEAN we will create a prosperous and highly competitive economic region.”

ASEAN is not only an economic union, it also puts high value on culture and social progress. By increasing the regional cooperation ASEAN aims to create stability and prosperity, the region bonded together in a partnership of dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

Tarmidzi, a former Indonesian Ambassador to Vienne, Austria and Geneva of Switzerland, added that ASEAN “will play an important role in the future of all membership states.”

The lecture is part of the Dr. Handa Eminent Lecture series.