About AIPA 2025


Background

As the 2025 ASEAN Chair, Malaysia has adopted "inclusivity and sustainability" as its overarching theme, recognising Malaysia’s aspiration for truly shared progress, ensuring that no one is left behind. It underscores Malaysia conviction that ASEAN is committed towards strengthening regional peace, stability and prosperity within an inclusive, sustainable and future-oriented framework. The year 2025 will mark the beginning of a new journey for ASEAN with the launch of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Realising this vision requires strong parliamentary engagement to translate policy into action and ensure accountability. Therefore, in conjunction with the ASEAN Chairmanship and the Presidency of AIPA, Malaysia aims to set the pace for this vision. 

In line with the country’s national aspiration, the Parliament of Malaysia proudly proposes the theme “Parliament at the Forefront for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable ASEAN” for the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary General Assembly, which will take place in September 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Definitions

Parliament: The parliament as an oversight body in monitoring and scrutinising the executive branch of government, ensuring accountability and transparency in the implementation of policies and programmes. 

Forefront: The leading or most prominent position; the forefront in this context refers to parliaments taking leading and active roles in shaping and implementing policies for inclusive growth and sustainable development within ASEAN. 

Inclusive Growth: Economic growth that benefits all segments of society, ensuring that the gains are shared equitably and that no one is left behind. This includes addressing inequalities among marginalised groups based on income, gender, ethnicity, location, and other factors. 

Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions, striving for a balance between progress and preservation.

ASEAN Community: The collective of ten Southeast Asian nations working towards a regional community characterised by economic integration, social progress, and cultural development.


Objectives

The 2025 AIPA theme aims to: 

  1. Highlight the crucial role of parliaments in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development within the ASEAN community;
  2. Promote the exchange of best practises among ASEAN member parliaments on legislative frameworks and oversight mechanisms that support inclusivity and sustainability;
  3. Strengthen parliamentary capacity to effectively address the challenges and opportunities related to inclusive growth and sustainable development;
  4. Foster greater collaboration between parliaments and other stakeholders (civil society, private sector, academia) to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; and
  5. Develop recommendations for policy reforms and legislative initiatives that advance inclusive growth and sustainable ASEAN. 


Rationale

Parliaments are central to the democratic process and possess unique powers to shape policy, hold governments accountable, and represent the diverse interests of their constituents. Placing parliaments at the forefront of the inclusive growth and sustainable ASEAN agenda enables AIPA to: 

  1. Ensure that legislation reflects the needs of all segments of society, including marginalised and vulnerable groups;
  2. Promote transparency and accountability in the implementation of policies related to sustainable development;
  3. Facilitate effective oversight of government programmes and initiatives aimed at achieving inclusive growth;
  4. Strengthen public participation in the decision-making processes related to inclusive growth and sustainable development; and
  5. Harmonise national policies and legislation across ASEAN member states to create a more integrated and sustainable regional economy. 


Conclusion 

The theme "Parliament at the Forefront for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable ASEAN" reflects Malaysia’s aspiration as the 2025 AIPA President to steer the region towards building a more equitable, prosperous, and environmentally responsible region by emphasising the crucial role of parliaments in achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. AIPA's engagements will be instrumental in translating the ASEAN's overarching theme into tangible progress on the ground. 

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