Asean represents a distinctively young demographic. Only 1 in 6 people living in the economic bloc today was alive when it was founded 50 years ago, and more than half the population is under the age of 30. At the World Economic Forum in Phnom Penh, The Post caught up with speakers from the Asean Young Leader Series to discuss key issues facing Asia, their concerns and whether young people should be optimistic about the future.

Speakers included Cambodian-French director Davy Chou, whose film Diamond Island explores the disjunct between the everyday lives of construction workers in Phnom Penh and the rush towards development and modernity they are facilitating; Francis Sollano, a Filipino 'trashion' designer focused on sustainability and the rise in consumption in Asia, known for creating beautiful works of art and fashion from garbage; and Kamolnan Chearavanont, the 21-year-old founder of an organisation that helps stateless women and children.

Watch the video above to hear some of their thoughts, and see more from the forum here.