Malaysia to guide ASEAN closer to people, focus on 2015 integration

Malaysia is dedicated to leading the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve its "historic" community integration goal in 2015 and will work to move the organization closer to people in the region, Prime Minister Najib Razak said here on Thursday.

Malaysia became the new chair for the 10-member bloc at the closing ceremony of the 25th ASEAN summit.

Najib said Malaysia will bring the institution closer to the people of Southeast Asia to make it a part of their daily lives.

"The goal of regional unity, stability and prosperity is not Malaysia's alone. It is a vision which we have all committed to," he said after accepting a gavel symbolizing the ASEAN chairmanship from Myanmar President U Thein Sein.

"We also hope to steer ASEAN closer to the people of Southeast Asia: to make this institution part of people's daily lives, by creating a truly people-centered ASEAN," he added.

Malaysia has a tall order ahead as ASEAN heads towards its deadline of becoming a community by the end of 2015. The ASEAN Secretariat had earlier noted 80 percent of the work on integration has been completed but had acknowledged the most challenging part remains.

ASEAN's collective economic worth is estimated to be 2.31 trillion U.S. dollars, making it the seventh largest economy in the world and the third largest in the region. Enditem