1st Roundtable Conference on Malaysia-Cambodia/Laos/Myanmar Relations towards Strengthening ASEAN through Multi-channel Dialogue 27 - 28 August 2012

A two-day Roundtable Conference on Malaysia-Cambodia/Laos/Myanmar Relations towards Strengthening ASEAN through Multi-channel Dialogue was held by the Foreign Policy Study Group (FPSG) in collaboration with the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) from 27-28 August 2012. Continuing the triumph of several previous conferences organised concerning ASEAN matters, this conference had successfully assembled distinguished speakers and participants from the government agencies, NGOs, universities, diplomatic corps as well as talented budding youths which generated in-depth knowledge sharing from the multilateral perspectives of Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The conference identified that cooperation, peace, development, inclusiveness and connectivity as well as new crucial factors such as youth involvement and sufficient media coverage is needed to build up the strength of ASEAN and to sustain the current growth rate. As the central player in the region, there is also a need for ASEAN members to collectively be coherent and cohesive in managing the involvement and influences of the global arising big powers. An organisation which promotes unity in diversity, the closed-forged bonding is seen as an assurance for a feasible ASEAN Community by 2015.

The Conference concluded with observations and remarks expressing mutual hope for creating innovative and fresh forms of dialogue between ASEAN member countries to strengthen ASEAN towards ASEAN Community 2015 and beyond.