ASEAN is on track to become the world's fourth largest economy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Nijib Razak speaks at the opening ceremony of the Conference (AFP/VNA)

According to Xinhua News Agency, on August 4, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak affirmed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is increasingly integrated and is on track to become the world's fourth largest economy by 2050.

Speaking at the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Mr. Najib said: "Some opinions are optimistic that we can become the 4th largest market in the world after the EU, the US and China by 2030, which is only 15 years away."

According to the Malaysian Prime Minister, ASEAN currently has the third largest workforce in the world, after India and China, and it is not unrealistic for ASEAN to claim to be the "third power" in Asia.

Regarding reports from a number of prestigious institutions and comments from a number of experts, Mr. Najib emphasized that ASEAN is facing great opportunities and has achieved many successes, while noting that the association needs to play a more active role in the international arena.

According to Mr. Najib, the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 will be adopted at the 27th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place next November, and the ASEAN Community will be established by the end of December this year./.

(According to AFP, VNA/VN+)