Delegates to the AMM 50 (Source: EPA/VNA)Manila (VNA) – The foreign ministersof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reviewed the bloc’s achievementsrecorded over the past 50 years and put forth major development orientationsfor the ASEAN Community in the time ahead.
They are gathering at the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM50) that opened in Manila, the Philippines, on August 5.
Theministers shared the views that the greatest attainment ASEAN has gained is thebuilding of a favourable condition for peace and stability, helping bring nationsin the region closer to create collective strength as well as a dialogueculture and cooperation for their growth.
Theyassessed the materialisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and masterplans on politics-security, economy, culture and social affairs.
In aneffort to practically benefit ASEAN citizens, the ministers consented topromote programmes on economic development cooperation and narrow developmentgaps, increase connectivity, especially through the implementation of the thirdphase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), the Master Plan on ASEANConnectivity (MPAC) and measures to ensure social welfare.
Applaudingthe initiative to combine the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with the UN’s 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development, the officials considered this one of thepriorities and agreed to roll out a roadmap to boost the reciprocation of thetwo documents.
Regarding ASEAN’sexternal affairs, they lauded strides made in relations between the group andits partners and appreciated contributions of the partners to the formation ofthe ASEAN Community. They, therefore, agreed to deepen the partnerships in amore pragmatic fashion.
Solidarityand unity have helped ASEAN overcome various difficulties and challenges, theysaid, stressing the need to carry forward such values to reap more successesand further develop.
ASEANshould display its common stance and viewpoints on regional issues in order tocontribute to peace, stability and development in the region, the FMs said,agreeing to promote the formation of a law-based regional structure on thebasis of current ASEAN-led forums and mechanisms.
Theyexpressed common concern over traditional and non-traditional challenges facingregional security, including the increased terrorism and piracy, and thesituation in the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea.
Mentioningthe East Sea issue, the participating countries shared viewpoints onmaintaining peace, stability, navigation and aviation security and safety inthe East Sea.
VietnameseFM Pham Binh Minh, head of the Vietnamese delegation to the event, highlightedthe significance of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the group’sachievements.
He listedstagnant intra-bloc trade, negative impacts of the anti-globalisation movementand the slow application of outcomes of the fourth industrial revolution aschallenges to the group.
Against thebackground, the official suggested upholding efficiency of the ASEAN Communitythrough the effectuation of measures and policies aiming to facilitate thedevelopment of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and combininginitiatives in ASEAN cooperation with those of partners.
He alsostressed the need to enhance education and training, establish a network ofagencies and institutes for scientific and technological research, andaccelerate the materialisation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration,particularly in education and training.
At the sametime, efforts should be made to fast-track the reform of administrativeprocedures and operation of the ASEAN apparatus, set common standards for ASEANmeetings and intensify the role of the common coordination mechanism ininstructing inter-sectoral issues, he said.
He also reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on the significance of peace,stability, navigation and aviation security and safety in the East Sea toregional peace and stability.
Disputesshould be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, includingthe 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respect for legaland diplomatic processes, he said, stressing the need for concerned parties toback efforts to build trust and prevent conflicts.
He notedthat developing a suitable and satisfactory approach to the East Sea issueconstitutes ASEAN’s practical contribution to long-term peace and stability inthe region and also proves its competence, efficiency and central role inregional and international matters.
Talkingabout non-traditional security challenges, Minh pointed out adverse impacts ofterrorism and piracy on security and social order in the region.
Vietnam will work together with other ASEAN members to strengthen comprehensivecooperation within regional mechanisms and frameworks in order to cope with theproblems, he stated.-VNA
They are gathering at the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM50) that opened in Manila, the Philippines, on August 5.
Theministers shared the views that the greatest attainment ASEAN has gained is thebuilding of a favourable condition for peace and stability, helping bring nationsin the region closer to create collective strength as well as a dialogueculture and cooperation for their growth.
Theyassessed the materialisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and masterplans on politics-security, economy, culture and social affairs.
In aneffort to practically benefit ASEAN citizens, the ministers consented topromote programmes on economic development cooperation and narrow developmentgaps, increase connectivity, especially through the implementation of the thirdphase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), the Master Plan on ASEANConnectivity (MPAC) and measures to ensure social welfare.
Applaudingthe initiative to combine the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with the UN’s 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development, the officials considered this one of thepriorities and agreed to roll out a roadmap to boost the reciprocation of thetwo documents.
Regarding ASEAN’sexternal affairs, they lauded strides made in relations between the group andits partners and appreciated contributions of the partners to the formation ofthe ASEAN Community. They, therefore, agreed to deepen the partnerships in amore pragmatic fashion.
Solidarityand unity have helped ASEAN overcome various difficulties and challenges, theysaid, stressing the need to carry forward such values to reap more successesand further develop.
ASEANshould display its common stance and viewpoints on regional issues in order tocontribute to peace, stability and development in the region, the FMs said,agreeing to promote the formation of a law-based regional structure on thebasis of current ASEAN-led forums and mechanisms.
Theyexpressed common concern over traditional and non-traditional challenges facingregional security, including the increased terrorism and piracy, and thesituation in the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea.
Mentioningthe East Sea issue, the participating countries shared viewpoints onmaintaining peace, stability, navigation and aviation security and safety inthe East Sea.
VietnameseFM Pham Binh Minh, head of the Vietnamese delegation to the event, highlightedthe significance of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the group’sachievements.
He listedstagnant intra-bloc trade, negative impacts of the anti-globalisation movementand the slow application of outcomes of the fourth industrial revolution aschallenges to the group.
Against thebackground, the official suggested upholding efficiency of the ASEAN Communitythrough the effectuation of measures and policies aiming to facilitate thedevelopment of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and combininginitiatives in ASEAN cooperation with those of partners.
He alsostressed the need to enhance education and training, establish a network ofagencies and institutes for scientific and technological research, andaccelerate the materialisation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration,particularly in education and training.
At the sametime, efforts should be made to fast-track the reform of administrativeprocedures and operation of the ASEAN apparatus, set common standards for ASEANmeetings and intensify the role of the common coordination mechanism ininstructing inter-sectoral issues, he said.
He also reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on the significance of peace,stability, navigation and aviation security and safety in the East Sea toregional peace and stability.
Disputesshould be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, includingthe 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respect for legaland diplomatic processes, he said, stressing the need for concerned parties toback efforts to build trust and prevent conflicts.
He notedthat developing a suitable and satisfactory approach to the East Sea issueconstitutes ASEAN’s practical contribution to long-term peace and stability inthe region and also proves its competence, efficiency and central role inregional and international matters.
Talkingabout non-traditional security challenges, Minh pointed out adverse impacts ofterrorism and piracy on security and social order in the region.
Vietnam will work together with other ASEAN members to strengthen comprehensivecooperation within regional mechanisms and frameworks in order to cope with theproblems, he stated.-VNA
VNA
