Opinion
Major Takeaways From the 34th ASEAN Summit
Efforts undertaken to shed the image of ASEAN as an organisation which is beholden to the elites by making it more people-centric and people-friendly were recognised at the summit. However, ASEAN leaders also accept that more needs to be done to put ASEAN closer in touch with the ordinary citizens of the region, better educate them about the work ASEAN does, and foster a pan-regional identity among Southeast Asians.