ASEAN and its dialogue partners have agreed to intensify collaborationthrough the effective implementation of existing joint action plansbetween the bloc and each partner, focusing on economics, trade,investment, culture, tourism and programmes to narrow development gapand adapt to climate change.
At ASEAN+1Ministerial Meetings in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on August 9, the ForeignMinisters of ASEAN and its dialogue partners, namely China, the Republicof Korea (RoK), India, Russia, the US, the EU, Japan and Canada,reviewed their dialogue partnership and cooperation over the past year,proposed cooperation orientations, and discussed issues of mutualconcern as well as the preparation for summits between ASEAN and somedialogue partners at the end of the year.
They spoke positively of the development of mutually-beneficialcollaboration between ASEAN and its partners, which contribute topromoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
The partners pledged to continue their support for the bloc’s centralrole and assistance for the establishment of the ASEAN Community by2015, as well as work together to enhance regional connectivity andlinkage, effectively implement existing free trade agreements, and pushforward negotiate for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP).
During discussions on regional andinternational issues, the East Sea issue drew special attention,with participating countries expressing deep concern about the recenttensions in the sea which seriously affected peace, security andstability in the region. They called for efforts to prevent thereoccurrence of similar incidents.
The ASEAN+1meetings also highlighted the importance for parties involved to abideby international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea, settle disputes by peaceful means, restrainthemselves, and not to use or threat to use force.
ASEAN and China need to exert more efforts to ensure the fullimplementation of commitments mentioned in the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), first and foremost Article 5of the DOC on self restrain and refraining from making moves causinginstability and further complicating the situation, while stepping upresult-oriented talks for an early formation of a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) to better ensure peace and stability in the region, theysaid.
At the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting,both sides committed to further strengthening their strategicpartnership, and coordinating to ensure a peaceful, stable andcooperative environment in the region.
Theyagreed to continue their effective deployment of their 2011-2015 actionplan, while furthering coordination in implementing the Master Plan onASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). The ministers also backed the discussion onupgrading the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, striving for two-way trade of500 billion USD by 2015 and 1 trillion USD by 2020.
Meanwhile, ASEAN and RoK ministers lauded activities in 2014 tocelebrate the 25th anniversary of their dialogue partnership, affirmingto do their utmost to make the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit in Busan,the RoK, in December a success.
The two sides also vowed to increase bilateral trade to 150 billion USD in 2015.
At the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN countries highly valuedIndia ’s assistance for the building of the ASEAN Community, and forthe promotion of ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure.
They reached a consensus on the enhancement of connectivity throughthe Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, the Mekong-India Economic Corridor and theASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement.
At theASEAN-Russia Ministerial Meeting, the ministers expressed theirsatisfaction with bilateral cooperation, especially a 30-percent surgein bilateral trade last year.
They spoke highlyof important results gained during the implementation of the 2005-2015comprehensive action plan, stressing the need to early build a new onewith priority given to consolidating the ASEAN Community after 2015,intensifying connectivity, boosting bilateral trade and investment, anddealing with arising challenges.
At the ASEAN-EUMinisterial Meeting, participants applauded the outcomes of the 20 thASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting recently held in Brussels, andagreed to work together to lift bilateral ties towards a strategicpartnership level.
ASEAN thanked the EU fordoubling funding for the ASEAN community building process to 170 millionEUR during 2014-2020, and its commitment of over 1.7 billion EUR forMekong nations to narrow development gap. The two sides saw eye to eyeon fostering connections in maritime security, education and disastercontrol.
On the same day, foreign ministers ofASEAN and the US reached a consensus on continuing to promotecomprehensive cooperation in all fields while keeping up efforts toensure nuclear security and safety and strengthen coordination inclimate change adaptation, clean energy and food security. They agreedto consider the building of an ASEAN-US common vision on disarmament andnuclear weapon non-proliferation.
At theASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting, the bloc applauded Japan ’sestablishment of the ASEAN Integration Fund, and the country’s supportfor ASEAN connectivity, particularly 70 key projects to implement theMaster Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.
ASEANencouraged Japan to continue its assistance in sustainable developmentfor developing countries in the Mekong sub-region, with the focus oninfrastructure, water resource management and climate change response.
At the ASEAN-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,the two sides agreed to add new areas such as maritime transport,education, clean energy, small- and medium-sized to the 2015-2020working plan.
ASEAN appreciated Canada’scommitment to supporting the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEANConnectivity (MPAC) and public-private partnership (PPP) projects whileencouraging Canada to consider boosting cooperation on agriculture,infrastructure and narrowing the development gap.
At the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (with China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea), the ministers appreciated the outcomes of the2013-2017 ASEAN+3 Action Plan in the fields of trade, investment,finance, connectivity, science and health.
Theyhighlighted the importance of ASEAN+3 cooperation in maintaining peace,security and stability in the region as well as in coping with emergingchallenges. They also stressed mutual supplementation between ASEAN+3and other frameworks such as ASEAN+1, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEANRegional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+)in promoting linkages in East Asia.
Theministers applauded the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve’s initiative toprovide timely assistance for the Philippines to overcome theconsequences of typhoon Haiyan last year.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhco-chaired the ASEAN-EU meeting. Minh affirmed that Vietnam willcontinue its efforts to deepen the ASEAN-EU relations towards astrategic partnership while calling for the EU to actively contribute tofostering peace, stability and trust building as well as supportASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture.
He proposed the two sides increase consultations at ministerial-levelon economic cooperation and organise an ASEAN-EU Business Summit.
Addressing other meetings, Deputy PM and FM Minh asked the partnersto actively participate in and contribute to building peace, security,stability and development in the region as well as backing the centralrole of ASEAN in the regional architecture via ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS,ARF and ADMM+.
He suggested the partnerscontinue supporting ASEAN in implementing the Roadmap for the ASEANCommunity and successfully building the Community by 2015 and itspost-2015 development.
Regarding the regionalsituation, the Vietnamese official shared ASEAN’s view on the need tostep up joint efforts to ensure an environment of peace, stability andcooperation in the region, including peace, security, safety and freedomof navigation in the East Sea.
He expressedVietnam’s deep concern about recent developments that resulted intensions in the East Sea, especially China’s illegal placement of itsoil rig in Vietnam’s waters, and stressed that such violations shouldnot be allowed to repeat in the future.
He underlined ASEAN’sprinciples as stipulated in the 2012 Statement of the ASEAN ForeignMinisters on ASEAN's Six Point Principles on the East Sea and the ASEANForeign Minister’s Statement on the Current Developments in the East Seawhich was issued on May 10, 2014, which call for compliance withinternational law, UNCLOS and DOC as well as the settlement of disputesby peaceful means, self restraint, without use of or threat to use offorce.
The parties should further enhance the full and effectiveimplementation of DOC, particularly Article 5 on not allowing activitiesthat complicate the situation, while accelerating substantivenegotiations for the early conclusion of the COC, he noted.-VNA
At ASEAN+1Ministerial Meetings in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on August 9, the ForeignMinisters of ASEAN and its dialogue partners, namely China, the Republicof Korea (RoK), India, Russia, the US, the EU, Japan and Canada,reviewed their dialogue partnership and cooperation over the past year,proposed cooperation orientations, and discussed issues of mutualconcern as well as the preparation for summits between ASEAN and somedialogue partners at the end of the year.
They spoke positively of the development of mutually-beneficialcollaboration between ASEAN and its partners, which contribute topromoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
The partners pledged to continue their support for the bloc’s centralrole and assistance for the establishment of the ASEAN Community by2015, as well as work together to enhance regional connectivity andlinkage, effectively implement existing free trade agreements, and pushforward negotiate for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP).
During discussions on regional andinternational issues, the East Sea issue drew special attention,with participating countries expressing deep concern about the recenttensions in the sea which seriously affected peace, security andstability in the region. They called for efforts to prevent thereoccurrence of similar incidents.
The ASEAN+1meetings also highlighted the importance for parties involved to abideby international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea, settle disputes by peaceful means, restrainthemselves, and not to use or threat to use force.
ASEAN and China need to exert more efforts to ensure the fullimplementation of commitments mentioned in the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), first and foremost Article 5of the DOC on self restrain and refraining from making moves causinginstability and further complicating the situation, while stepping upresult-oriented talks for an early formation of a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) to better ensure peace and stability in the region, theysaid.
At the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting,both sides committed to further strengthening their strategicpartnership, and coordinating to ensure a peaceful, stable andcooperative environment in the region.
Theyagreed to continue their effective deployment of their 2011-2015 actionplan, while furthering coordination in implementing the Master Plan onASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). The ministers also backed the discussion onupgrading the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, striving for two-way trade of500 billion USD by 2015 and 1 trillion USD by 2020.
Meanwhile, ASEAN and RoK ministers lauded activities in 2014 tocelebrate the 25th anniversary of their dialogue partnership, affirmingto do their utmost to make the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit in Busan,the RoK, in December a success.
The two sides also vowed to increase bilateral trade to 150 billion USD in 2015.
At the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN countries highly valuedIndia ’s assistance for the building of the ASEAN Community, and forthe promotion of ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure.
They reached a consensus on the enhancement of connectivity throughthe Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, the Mekong-India Economic Corridor and theASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement.
At theASEAN-Russia Ministerial Meeting, the ministers expressed theirsatisfaction with bilateral cooperation, especially a 30-percent surgein bilateral trade last year.
They spoke highlyof important results gained during the implementation of the 2005-2015comprehensive action plan, stressing the need to early build a new onewith priority given to consolidating the ASEAN Community after 2015,intensifying connectivity, boosting bilateral trade and investment, anddealing with arising challenges.
At the ASEAN-EUMinisterial Meeting, participants applauded the outcomes of the 20 thASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting recently held in Brussels, andagreed to work together to lift bilateral ties towards a strategicpartnership level.
ASEAN thanked the EU fordoubling funding for the ASEAN community building process to 170 millionEUR during 2014-2020, and its commitment of over 1.7 billion EUR forMekong nations to narrow development gap. The two sides saw eye to eyeon fostering connections in maritime security, education and disastercontrol.
On the same day, foreign ministers ofASEAN and the US reached a consensus on continuing to promotecomprehensive cooperation in all fields while keeping up efforts toensure nuclear security and safety and strengthen coordination inclimate change adaptation, clean energy and food security. They agreedto consider the building of an ASEAN-US common vision on disarmament andnuclear weapon non-proliferation.
At theASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting, the bloc applauded Japan ’sestablishment of the ASEAN Integration Fund, and the country’s supportfor ASEAN connectivity, particularly 70 key projects to implement theMaster Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.
ASEANencouraged Japan to continue its assistance in sustainable developmentfor developing countries in the Mekong sub-region, with the focus oninfrastructure, water resource management and climate change response.
At the ASEAN-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,the two sides agreed to add new areas such as maritime transport,education, clean energy, small- and medium-sized to the 2015-2020working plan.
ASEAN appreciated Canada’scommitment to supporting the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEANConnectivity (MPAC) and public-private partnership (PPP) projects whileencouraging Canada to consider boosting cooperation on agriculture,infrastructure and narrowing the development gap.
At the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (with China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea), the ministers appreciated the outcomes of the2013-2017 ASEAN+3 Action Plan in the fields of trade, investment,finance, connectivity, science and health.
Theyhighlighted the importance of ASEAN+3 cooperation in maintaining peace,security and stability in the region as well as in coping with emergingchallenges. They also stressed mutual supplementation between ASEAN+3and other frameworks such as ASEAN+1, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEANRegional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+)in promoting linkages in East Asia.
Theministers applauded the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve’s initiative toprovide timely assistance for the Philippines to overcome theconsequences of typhoon Haiyan last year.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhco-chaired the ASEAN-EU meeting. Minh affirmed that Vietnam willcontinue its efforts to deepen the ASEAN-EU relations towards astrategic partnership while calling for the EU to actively contribute tofostering peace, stability and trust building as well as supportASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture.
He proposed the two sides increase consultations at ministerial-levelon economic cooperation and organise an ASEAN-EU Business Summit.
Addressing other meetings, Deputy PM and FM Minh asked the partnersto actively participate in and contribute to building peace, security,stability and development in the region as well as backing the centralrole of ASEAN in the regional architecture via ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS,ARF and ADMM+.
He suggested the partnerscontinue supporting ASEAN in implementing the Roadmap for the ASEANCommunity and successfully building the Community by 2015 and itspost-2015 development.
Regarding the regionalsituation, the Vietnamese official shared ASEAN’s view on the need tostep up joint efforts to ensure an environment of peace, stability andcooperation in the region, including peace, security, safety and freedomof navigation in the East Sea.
He expressedVietnam’s deep concern about recent developments that resulted intensions in the East Sea, especially China’s illegal placement of itsoil rig in Vietnam’s waters, and stressed that such violations shouldnot be allowed to repeat in the future.
He underlined ASEAN’sprinciples as stipulated in the 2012 Statement of the ASEAN ForeignMinisters on ASEAN's Six Point Principles on the East Sea and the ASEANForeign Minister’s Statement on the Current Developments in the East Seawhich was issued on May 10, 2014, which call for compliance withinternational law, UNCLOS and DOC as well as the settlement of disputesby peaceful means, self restraint, without use of or threat to use offorce.
The parties should further enhance the full and effectiveimplementation of DOC, particularly Article 5 on not allowing activitiesthat complicate the situation, while accelerating substantivenegotiations for the early conclusion of the COC, he noted.-VNA
