The future of ASEAN is in the spotlight once again this year, following the announcement of the ASEAN Community 2015 and the inauguration of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of last year. The vision of creating a sound ASEAN Community demands that the Association must prove that it can further enhance unity and forge stronger centrality both within ASEAN and with the global community. Most importantly, ASEAN must demonstrate that it can continue to improve the quality of life of its people through the enhancement of capability to implement the blueprints of its three community pillars – political, economic and social-cultural – if ASEAN as a regional organization wants to remain relevant in the fast changing geo-political environment beyond 2015.

There is still skepticism about ASEAN’s ability to achieve a meaningful sense of community beyond 2015 without adopting new approaches to its core activities, especially in the context of the power shifting dynamic in the Asia-Pacific region. ASEAN’s aspiration to realize a community must overcome ongoing challenges and shortfalls which hold back its aspirations. It must also remove uncertainty and tensions that could jeopardize the hardearned peace and prosperity the region of Southeast Asia has been able to enjoy thus far.

Therefore, looking ahead beyond 2015, it is a crucial time for ASEAN to reflect on the way forward so as to maintain its credibility and manage the emerging strategic currents that may pose a challenge to its relevance in the years ahead.

It is in this light that this regional conference has been organized. There will be three distinct sessions.

The focus of the first session is to visualize the Post-ASEAN 2015 direction and agenda and draw fresh perspectives on how ASEAN intends to set its priorities in the context of upholding the promise of making the region of Southeast Asia peaceful and prosperous as they move forward beyond 2015.

The second session is intended as a discussion which deals with key factors needed to enhance ASEAN centrality and explore how ASEAN can best improve its relevance and secure its interests in the long term beyond 2015, while meeting the challenges and dynamics of regional and global development.

The third session is reserved for a debate about how Cambodia has been able to contribute to ASEAN since it became a member in 1999 and also highlight the country’s efforts in its preparation for the realization of a broader ASEAN Community 2015. In addition, this session will attempt to identify strategic issues for Cambodia to consider in the next phase of ASEAN Community beyond 2015

The conference aims to gather a select group of scholars, regional and domestic experts and officials to determine key issues that prescribe the Post-2015 ASEAN agenda amidst emerging shifts in major power relations and security developments. It will focus on examining the effectiveness of ASEAN centrality beyond 2015, as well as identifying some key elements of an appropriate plan of action to ensure that ASEAN continues to play a central role in regional and global issues. In addition it will assess the ability and preparedness of Cambodia in keeping up with ASEAN’s regionalism and identify along with fresh initiatives that Cambodia can utilize within the new ASEAN 2025 Agenda.

The proceedings of this regional conference will be compiled into a conference report by the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, which will cover the issues and points discussed during the conference, including some policy recommendations. The postconference report will be made available to ASEAN leaders for their consideration to encourage them to step up efforts in promoting ASEAN’s relevance in order to meet the challenges ahead in the context of a more dynamic regional and global environment beyond 2015.