Witnessing ASEAN’s Expansion and a Shared Vision for the FutureBy Ms Zoel Ng (Malaysia)
At the Opening Ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, a new chapter unfolded as Timor-Leste officially joined ASEAN, expanding the regional community from ten to eleven member states. This milestone reaffirmed ASEAN’s enduring spirit of unity in diversity — a principle that continues to guide the region’s pursuit of shared prosperity, peace, and sustainable development.
AI as a Tool for Humanity
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) underscored the vital role of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology in Malaysia’s and ASEAN’s development. He reminded leaders that AI must be our tool, not our master — a powerful call to human-centred innovation.
Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, ASEAN launched the ASEAN AI Safety Network (AI Safe), an initiative designed to:
- Promote ethical innovation
- Institutionalize AI safety protocols
- Strengthen regional cooperation in AI governance
AI Safe recognizes both the potential and the perils of technology — from algorithmic bias and misinformation to manipulation and unintended harm — and positions ASEAN as a region that champions innovation guided by ethics.
From Digital Transformation to Social Transformation
For the Society for Asian Solidarity Economy (ASSEC), this moment aligns perfectly with our mission to advance the ASEAN SDG-SSE Roadmap — a framework connecting technology, sustainability, and social solidarity.
The Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) model emphasizes inclusive growth by empowering cooperatives, social enterprises, and grassroots innovators. As ASEAN accelerates its digital transformation, SSE ensures that innovation remains people-centred, values-driven, and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By integrating AI governance principles with solidarity-based economic models, ASEAN can build a development ecosystem that balances efficiency with empathy — where technological progress uplifts communities rather than displaces them.
Bridging Policy and People
ASSEC’s participation in the Summit reflects its continued role in connecting policy frameworks with local realities through the Quadruple Helix model — linking government, private sector, academia, and civil society.
This approach drives the ASEAN SDG-SSE Roadmap’s three pillars:
- Inclusive innovation – enabling community-driven problem-solving
- Ethical investment – mobilizing resources for social good
- Community resilience – strengthening local economies and cooperation networks
Through dialogue, capacity-building, and policy partnerships, ASSEC continues to ensure that regional goals translate into local impact — making the SDGs not just aspirational, but operational.
A Shared Path Forward
As ASEAN embraces its newest member and advances digital cooperation, the convergence of AI ethics and solidarity economy principles points toward a more inclusive future.
The ASEAN SDG-SSE Roadmap remains central to this vision — fostering innovation that serves people, supports the planet, and strengthens regional unity. Together, ASEAN’s journey from digital transformation to social transformation will define the next generation of sustainable, ethical, and human-centred development.
Note: Ms Zoel Ng, the director of MySDG Academy represented ASSEC in this opening.
