KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 29 — The Asean Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat concluded in Luang Prabang, Laos, today with unanimous support for Laos’ priorities during its Chairmanship this year, centred under the theme “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”
Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said there are four priorities under “Enhancing Connectivity”, namely Integrating and Connecting Economies; Forging an Inclusive and Sustainable Future; Transforming for the Digital Future; and Promoting the Role of Asean Culture and the Arts for Inclusion and Sustainability.
The priorities under “Enhancing Resilience” are Development of strategic plans to implement the Asean Community Vision 2045; Enhancing Asean Centrality; Promoting Environmental Cooperation: Climate Change Resilience; Promoting the Role of Women and Children Towards the Transformation of Behaviourism in Asean; and Transforming Asean Health Development Resilience in a New Context.
“We also welcomed the Laos’ Priority Economic Deliverables for its Chairmanship, including making progress on establishing the Asean Power Grid,” said the AMM in a statement.
According to Kommasith, Asean Foreign Ministers were committed to implementing the Asean Blue Economy Framework through the establishment of the Asean Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy and the convening of its first meeting and the Second Asean Blue Economy Forum this year.
On dialogue partners, he said Asean looked forward to the convening of the Special Summit to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Asean-Australia Dialogue Relations in Melbourne from March 4 to March 6, and the 24th Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting to be held in Brussels, Belgium, on February 2.
The AMM Retreat also welcomed South Korea’s request for the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, in conjunction with the 35th Anniversary of Asean-South Korea Dialogue Relations.
“We also welcomed the designation of 2024 as the Asean-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges (ACYPPE) and looked forward to the launching ceremony of the ACYPPE in Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, from February 1 to February 2,” he said.
Regarding the crisis in Myanmar, the Asean Foreign Ministers urged for immediate cessation of violence by all parties in the country to create a safe and conducive environment for ensuring the timely, unhindered, and safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need without discrimination.
“We urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint, uphold international humanitarian law and take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of all civilians,” said Kommasith.
He said they welcomed the initiative between Thailand and Myanmar to scale up humanitarian assistance along the border through the Red Cross Societies of the two countries and looking forward to engaging the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Management (AHA Centre) in joining the monitoring of the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
The AMM Retreat also reaffirmed Asean’s united position that the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) remains the main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar, with the sole objective of restoring peace, stability, and a Myanmar-owned and led comprehensive political resolution.
Asean member states welcomed the appointment of former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office of Laos Alounkeo Kittikhoun as the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair on Myanmar for 2024 as the 10-member bloc continues its efforts to promote progress in the implementation of the 5PC in its entirety.
— Bernama
