The following are the outcomes of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting and the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting released tonight by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:

“Outcomes of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,

the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting

and the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting

At the invitation of His Excellency Mohammad Mahfud, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, and Her Excellency Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Indonesia, His Excellency PRAK Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting and the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting on 09 May 2023, in preparation for the 42nd ASEAN Summit to be held on 10-11 May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM)

The Ministers welcomed the strong interests of external partners in seeking to build relations with ASEAN, and noted with satisfaction the growing interest of countries outside the region in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and that this reflects the recognition of ASEAN’s central and leading role in the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

The Ministers looked forwards to the signing of Instrument of Accession to the TAC by Mexico, Panama and Saudi Arabia, along with Spain this year, and the reassessment of Serbia’s application. They also expressed hope that ASEAN would be able to reach consensus to support the Maldives to become a party to the TAC.

On ASEAN external relations, the Ministers supported Canada’s proposal to convene ASEAN-Canada Summit this year, and the establishment of ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership through the Joint Statement at the upcoming ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with Canada in July 2023. They also looked forward to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of our relations.

The Ministers also exchanged views on how to further accelerate the progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), including the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decisions on the Implementation of the 5PC, which was endorsed at the 40th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh last year. Cambodia also underlined that the tragedies caused by growing violence in many parts of the country are a brutal reminder that we need to double our efforts to help Myanmar return into normalcy at the soonest possible. Facing this complex issue, ASEAN needs to be flexible, innovative and creative in exploring possible approaches that could advance the 5PC.

The 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting

The Meeting commended the progress in the implementation of the action lines of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025 with 99% completion, and encouraged the sectoral bodies to accomplish other remaining priorities. The Ministers noted that since 2021, the ASEAN Secretariat also monitored emerging issues such as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), cybersecurity, ASEAN’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, as mandated by the APSC Council.

During the meeting, His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of maintaining and promoting the ASEAN Centrality through the strengthening of ASEAN-led mechanisms for peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in the region. He also highlighted some of the most important traditional and non-traditional security issues such as transnational crimes, internet scams, money laundry, and illicit drugs, among others. He also urged member states to provide necessary supports to the ASEAN Regional Center for Mine Action (ARMAC).

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse