Regional experts and scholars have been busy squeezing their brains to draft Asean's vision for the next two decades. They are already halfway there. However, a lot more needs to be done to ensure that the new Asean Community Post 2025 Vision, which will now run up to 2045, will fit the overall aspiration of Asean citizens, who currently number roughly 672 million.

Today, Asean is facing new challenges both inside and outside. Since Asean's inception 55 years ago, its main raison d'etre was to deal with external challenges -- to unite against the hegemonic ambitions of the great powers, to leverage the bloc's collective power, and to promote cooperation and well-being of the people.

www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2629593/asean-mapping-out-a-vision-for-2045