Kuala Lumpur: The Prime Minister delivered a joint statement at the meeting between ASEAN leaders and representatives of ASEAN youth, stating that youth are an important force in driving ASEAN forward, and supporting the development and participation of youth, pointing out that ASEAN must prepare skills, education, and training to cope with future challenges.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, attended and delivered a statement at the ASEAN Youth Summit, which was attended by leaders and representatives from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretary-General, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste (as an observer), and ASEAN youth representatives.
The Prime Minister expressed her delight at the opportunity to meet and listen to the opinions of ASEAN youth representatives on ways to create an inclusive and sustainable future for the region, emphasizing that youth are a key force in driving ASEAN forward. She proposed three important approaches to promote the development and participation of youth in ASEAN.
Firstly, she highlighted the need for ASEAN to promote the proactive role of youth in addressing new challenges, especially digital transformation and climate change. The Prime Minister pointed out that youth skills and capabilities in terms of adaptability, creativity, and digital literacy will foster a digital environment that fosters innovation, creating new opportunities and ensuring online safety. Youth empowerment and determination are also key drivers of climate action. Through support with knowledge, digital tools, and platforms for engagement, ASEAN can harness the potential of youth to drive sustainable change and build a resilient region better equipped to meet future challenges.
Secondly, she suggested that ASEAN should invest more in youth development programmes and promote cross-border cooperation to enable youth to unleash their power in driving regional change and progress. The creativity and determination of youth play a crucial role in addressing challenges through learning, community initiatives, and policy-making participation.
Finally, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for ASEAN to prepare its youth with the skills they need for the future, through promoting equitable access to quality education and training. This will ensure that they have strong analytical and critical thinking skills based on universal ethics and values, which are important foundations that will shape youth into responsible citizens and play a role in driving sustainable development.
In closing, the Prime Minister emphasized that Thailand is ready to support the work of the ASEAN Youth Network to strengthen friendship, unity, and solidarity. She believes that cooperation among each other is the key to creating an inclusive and sustainable ASEAN future. On this occasion, the Prime Minister talked with the ASEAN youth representatives from Thailand, greeted them, and had a friendly conversation, while also praising the abilities of Thai youth.