Delegates attend the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Source: VNA)Chair’s Statement on the Informal ASEAN MinisterialMeeting (IAMM)
1. The Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) was convened on 2 March 2021 viavideoconference, with the view to progress the implementation of the ASEAN CommunityVision 2025, work on an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision, advance ASEAN’sinitiatives to respond to and recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic, discuss ASEAN’s external relations, as well as exchangeviews on pressing regional issues of concern.
2. In pursuit of strengthening our regional solidarity, wereiterated that the political stability in ASEAN Member States is essential toachieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community. We underscored theneed to maintain our unity, Centrality, and relevance in the region and to collectivelyaddress common challenges. We recognised that the strength of the ASEANCommunity lies in putting people at its centre. In this regard, we recall thepurposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, including adherence tothe rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutionalgovernment, respect for fundamental freedoms, and the promotion and protectionof human rights.
3. We noted the current progress on developing an ASEAN Community post-2025 visionand acknowledged the importance of continuity in this multi-year endeavour, suchas having it co-chaired by a permanent shepherd for the duration of the visioningexercise together with the incumbent ASEAN Chair. We also agreed that thedevelopment of this vision should be pursued in a comprehensive, pragmatic, balanced,inclusive and coordinated manner across the three ASEAN Community pillars,sectoral bodies and with the relevant stakeholders, including at the Leaders’ level.
4. We reaffirmed our support for Brunei Darussalam’s priorities anddeliverables under the theme of “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”, and agreedto develop a Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses toEmergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD) across the three ASEAN Communitypillars. We reaffirmed our belief that regionalism and multilateralism areimportant principles and frameworks of cooperation.
5. We discussed ASEAN’s collective response to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic andreiterated our commitment to implement the initiatives in the Implementation Planof the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework in a timely and effective manner.We welcomed the establishment of the Task Force on the Operationalisation ofthe ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework (ATCAF) and encouraged the expeditious conclusion of theATCAF. We welcomed the decision to utilise 10.5 million USD from the COVID-19ASEAN Response Fund to procure vaccines for the people of ASEAN as soon aspossible. We encouraged the early operationalisation of the ASEAN RegionalReserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies and the timely establishmentof the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. Wenoted efforts to address the impacts of the pandemic on ASEAN’s Communitybuilding as well as efforts to narrow the development gap in the region.
6. We agreed to maintain ASEAN’s proactive and outward-looking approach in the conductof ASEAN’s external relations based on shared interest, constructive engagements, and mutual benefits, which can contribute toASEAN’s Community building and development cooperation efforts, as well asefforts to ensure swift, comprehensive, and sustainable regional recovery fromthe COVID-19 pandemic.
We underscored the importance of further strengthening ASEANCentrality and unity in our engagement with ASEAN’s external partners throughASEAN-led mechanisms in order to build mutual trust and confidence as well asto reinforce open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regionalarchitecture with ASEAN at the centre. In this regard, we looked forward toconvening the Special ASEAN United States Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the nearfuture, and other engagements with external partners. We also looked forward toactivities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China DialogueRelations as well as the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations.
7. We exchanged views on regional and international issues of concern,including the situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. Weunderscored the need to maintain our unity, Centrality and relevance in theregion and to collectively address common challenges.
8. We, as an ASEAN family, have been closely following the current developmentsin the ASEAN region and concurred that the political stability in any and allASEAN Member States is essential to achieving a collective peaceful, stable andprosperous ASEAN Community. We expressed our concern on the situation in Myanmarand called on all parties to refrain from instigating further violence, and forall sides to exercise utmost restraint as well as flexibility. We also calledon all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution, through constructivedialogue, and practical reconciliation in the interests of the people and theirlivelihood. In this regard, we expressed ASEAN’s readiness to assist Myanmar ina positive, peaceful and constructive manner.
9. We also heard some calls for the release of political detainees and for theUnited Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar toengage the parties concerned.
10. We also underscored the importance of Myanmar’s continuedefforts in addressing the situation in the Rakhine State, including commencingthe repatriation process, in voluntary, safe and dignified manner in accordancewith its bilateral agreements with Bangladesh. We reiterated our appreciationto the Secretary-General of ASEAN for his efforts in leading the implementationof the recommendations of the Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA). We lookedforward to the conduct of the Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and encouragedthe Secretary-General of ASEAN to continue identifying possible areas toeffectively facilitate the repatriation process for displaced persons fromRakhine State./.
VNA
