Jakarta, Aug. 8 -- ASEAN needs to continue maintaining unity and upholding its central role, with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 serving as the strategic compass to navigate a fast-changing world, its Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn addressed a ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 8 marking its 59th anniversary (August 8, 1967-2026).

Kao said nearly six decades of dialogue, mutual respect and a drive to find common ground have forged the strength that carried the bloc through crises and kept regional peace and stability intact. Cooperation and dialogue, he stressed, remain ASEAN's key strengths.

He warned that today's cross-border threats, including trade disruptions, food and energy insecurity, climate change and natural disaster...