Youth leaders chart a future-ready ASEAN at youth dialogue

by SHAUQI WAHAB

THE fourth ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2025 brings together a dynamic cohort of youth delegates from across South-East Asia (SE Asia), each representing their nation’s next generation of changemakers.

These young leaders, chosen for their dedication to community development, sustainability, digital innovation and diplomacy, gathered in Kuala Lumpur (KL) to exchange ideas, share experiences and shape a collective vision for a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready ASEAN.

Timor-Leste: ASEAN Membership Offers Path to Shared Growth

As Timor-Leste continues its journey toward full ASEAN membership, its youth representatives are expressing strong optimism about the regional bloc’s potential to support national development and entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the ASEAN Summit week in KL, Timor-Leste youth delegate Francisca Freitas Sang highlighted the importance of joining ASEAN as a milestone for her nation.

“We try to put all of our efforts to be with this community, because we believe that ASEAN will help us as a new nation to become better, to develop,” she said between sessions during the dialogue.

She added that Timor-Leste is prioritising infrastructure development and youth entrepreneurship as key areas to strengthen its economic foundation before full accession.

Local businesses, especially those led by young people, are being empowered to achieve self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability.

Timor-Leste has also received capacity-building support and technical assistance from existing ASEAN members, which she said has been crucial to national preparations.

The country hopes to contribute to ASEAN in areas such as culture, eco-tourism and the globally recognised coffee industry.

Reflecting on Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN chair, Sang praised the summit’s organisation and said it offered valuable lessons.

“Now that I’m here, I see the reason why, and I’m so glad. I think we are still far behind Malaysia, and we can learn so much,” she added.

As the only remaining SE Asian nation outside ASEAN, Timor-Leste was granted observer status in 2022 and continues to progress through the membership roadmap.

Sang believed that becoming part of ASEAN is not just a political goal, but a shared aspiration to grow together with the region.

Singapore Calls For ASEAN-wide Youth Partnerships on Climate and Digital Literacy

Youth delegate from Singapore, Khairul Hilmi, called for stronger ASEAN youth collaboration on critical issues such as climate change, sustainability and digital literacy, highlighting the power of cross-border friendships and shared learning to shape the region’s future.

He said young people play a pivotal role in charting the region’s path forward.

“When all these friendships develop over time, I think that’s when you get good partnerships and collaborations,” he said.

Representing Singapore on a regional platform, Khairul also mentioned the importance of using this opportunity to understand the diversity within ASEAN and the different societal challenges that exist.

While countries like Singapore are leading in digital and financial literacy, they too are constantly adapting to emerging challenges such as misinformation and digital ethics.

On environmental action, he praised the active participation of Singapore’s youth through ground-up initiatives and government partnerships like youth panels focused on recycling and sustainability policy.

Reflecting on his experience in Malaysia during the summit, Khairul expressed admiration for the high standards of hospitality and the relevance of the summit’s theme.

“Malaysia is top class when it comes to hosting events — they walk the talk,” he said.

Khairul also hoped that youth-led efforts on climate action and digital inclusivity would be further expanded across ASEAN, driven by a collective desire to do good and make tangible changes in their societies.

Indonesia Champions Inclusivity and Digital Equity

Indonesian delegate Ibnu Alif Daffa Gymnastiar brought a passionate voice to the regional conversation, placing a spotlight on inclusive education, equitable digital transformation and youth collaboration.

A member of the Indonesian Youth Diplomacy, a prominent NGO focused on global issues, he said his mission is to ensure that knowledge regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global issues are localised and accessible to all Indonesian youth, especially those in eastern Indonesia.

Coming from the easternmost part of Indonesia, Ibnu views his participation in the ASEAN Summit as a personal commitment to inclusivity and representation.

“I stand up not only for Indonesia as a whole, but also for Eastern Indonesian youth,” he said.

He touched on the disparities in access to education and digital tools between the western and eastern parts of his country.

The lack of digital infrastructure is a serious concern and many youths in remote areas do not even know how to use Microsoft Word.

In addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and misinformation, Ibnu mentioned the need for ASEAN governments to provide tailored digital literacy programmes.

“We are the ones who decide which information from AI can be used. It is not AI that regulates us, but it is us that regulate AI,” he added.

He also welcomed Malaysia’s warm hosting and praised the proposal to establish the ASEAN Youth Dialogue (AYD) Alumni Network, saying it would help sustain meaningful collaborations long after the event.

Through this summit, he hopes to return to Indonesia not only with renewed optimism but with a stronger mandate to advocate for policy reforms that prioritise inclusivity and youth empowerment across ASEAN.

Vietnam Calls for Inclusive Education and Regional Unity

Representing the voice of Vietnamese youth at the ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2025, Nguyen Nam Bao Ngoc brought forward a powerful message of unity, innovation and inclusive development.

A student of international relations and international commercial law, Nam is also a central committee member of the Vietnam Youth Federation, deeply engaged in issues of youth empowerment and education.

At the summit, she stressed the critical role young people must play in shaping ASEAN’s future.

“Our generation holds the power to drive innovation, promote inclusive growth and safeguard sustainability in ASEAN,” she said.

For her, the youths are not just participants, but architects of regional transformation.

Nam highlighted education equity as a top concern, showing the need for equal learning opportunities regardless of socioeconomic background.

For this, she believes regional collaboration must extend to digital innovation and sustainability, and she called for initiatives like start-up incubators, hackathons and cross-border upskilling programmes to help ASEAN youths thrive in the digital age.

She also expressed support for the creation of a regional green youth fund and stronger youth inclusion in policy-making, while stressing the importance of cultural understanding.

“Peace is not the only absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding,” she added.

For that to materialise, people-to-people ties among ASEAN youth are vital for long-term harmony and prosperity.

With a clear voice and collaborative spirit, her vision reflects a broader aspiration among ASEAN youth: To build a region that is green, inclusive, and future-ready — together.