Illustrative image (Source: AFP/VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – The 10th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO) tookplace in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta on March 22.
The conference brought together delegates from the tenASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat and representatives from 14 ASEANagencies and organisations which are participating in the implementation of theASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025.
The Vietnamese delegation to the event comprisesrepresentatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defence,Public Security and Justice.
The conference reviewed the materialisatioin of theblueprint, and discussed orientations and measures in the time to come.
Cooperation in politics and security within ASEAN hasmade significant progresses in all spheres in terms of both quality andquantity over the past time, with 239 out of 290 action lines set in theblueprint realised, the conference heard.
The delegates agreed to continue prioritising theenhancement of dialogues and cooperation for peace and stability in the region,the promotion of trust building, and effective settlement of challenges, whilecontributing to easing tension in a number of hot-spots in the region.
Regarding the East Sea issue, they reiterated reachedprinciples on the significance of peace, stability, security, safety andfreedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, respecting internationallaw, settling disputes by peaceful means, exercising self-restraint, taking noactions that complicate the disputes, taking non-militarisation, fully andeffectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC) and soon completing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
They also highlighted the approval of the COCframework and the kick-start of negotiations on the COC between ASEAN andChina.
The conference also noted achievements incollaboration in specialised realms of the APSC such as the combat againstterrorism and trans-national crimes, national defence, and consular andimmigration affairs.
External relations remain a spotlight of ASEAN, thedelegates said, adding that apart from existing dialogue partners, the grouphas established relations with four new partners namely Norway, Switzerland,Turkey and Germany, along with expanding cooperation with many regionalorganisations.
Up to 90 countries and organisations have dispatchedtheir ambassadors to ASEAN. Besides, 53 ASEAN committees have been set up incountries outside the region and places accommodating headquarters of majorinternational organisations.
The delegates consented that the ASEAN member nationsand agencies should double efforts in order to improve the quality of theimplementation of the APSC Blueprint 2025, focusing on coordination betweenagencies, especially in cross-sectoral and inter-pillar matters.
Communications plans should be rolled out to raisepublic awareness of benefits generated by the ASEAN political-securitycooperation, they said.
Outcomes of the conference are expected to besubmitted to ASEAN leaders during the upcoming Summit.
The APSC Blueprint 2025 was approved on November 21,2015. It is envisagedto build upon the achievements that have been made to elevate ASEAN politicaland security cooperation to an even higher level. This will ensure arules-based and inclusive community in which people enjoy human rights,fundamental freedoms and social justice, live in a safe and secure environmentwith enhanced capacity to respond effectively to emerging challenges and in adynamic region where ASEAN enhances its centrality in the evolving regionalarchitecture and plays a constructive role globally. In this regard, thisBlueprint promotes a people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN in which all sectorsof society, regardless of gender, race, religion, language, or social andcultural background, are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, theprocess of ASEAN integration and community building.
Founded in 2006, the ASCCO aims to create a forum forspecialised agencies to share information and experience, and coordinate witheach other during the building of the APSC.
Apart from ASCCO, ASEAN established coordinationmechanisms for its ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-CulturalCommunity.
TheAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967.The member states of the association are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The ASEANSecretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.-VNA
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