Foreign ministers of ASEAN nations discussed measures to foster the resilience of the 10-member bloc amid prolonged Covid-19 and traditional and non-traditional security threats.
| ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat takes place in Phnom Penh on Feb 17. Photo: VNA |
The participants exchanged views on priorities and cooperation orientations for 2022 at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) held on February 17, the first in-person meeting under Cambodia ASEAN chairmanship 2022 themed “ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together.”
This is the first regional foreign minister meeting after more than one year of disruption due to Covid-19. Myanmar did not send representatives there.
The ministers agreed to step up the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework (ATCAF), as well as comprehensive cooperation on the digital economy, e-commerce, digital connectivity, science and technology, entrepreneurship for women and young people, narrowing the development gap.
They stressed the importance of action plans for the ASEAN Community Vision to 2025, requesting the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) to develop the ASEAN Vision after 2025 to come into operation soon. Accordingly, ASEAN needs to strengthen regional resilience in the face of emerging traditional and non-traditional challenges, including the continued Covid-19 response and recovery plans.
The move is aimed to achieve the regional target of 5.1% growth rate in 2022.
In this regard, Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested the regional countries recognize each other’s vaccine passports to facilitate the mobility that’s good for the long-term recovery plans.
To date, ASEAN has received about US$30 million for the Covid-19 Response Fund, partly used to buy vaccines for member countries; at the same time, the bloc continued to mobilize contributions to the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies (RRMS).
At the meeting, they also vowed to work for sustainable development, human resource development, people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing ASEAN identity.
Regarding the regional issues, the participants expressed concern over the South China Sea issues while reaffirming ASEAN’s stance on the region that prioritizes rule of law, not using or threatening to use force, peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea, and soon finishing negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
The countries also agreed to conduct practical activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the DOC and the 40th anniversary of UNCLOS in 2022 to contribute to the above efforts.
Regarding Myanmar, the ministers affirmed that Myanmar is an inseparable member of ASEAN, respecting the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the future of Myanmar is decided by its people. Accordingly, ASEAN will continue supporting Myanmar to find a feasible and sustainable solution through the implementation of the Five Point Consensus, especially in promoting the role of Special Envoy and ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance to local people.
Vietnam’s FM emphasized the need for humanitarian assistance to Myanmar’s people while requesting ASEAN to boost cooperation to deal with non-traditional security threats including cybersecurity, maritime security, water security, climate change, environmental pollution, and Covid-related emerging issues.
