ASEAN steps up cooperation to narrow development gap in regional bloc

With regard to the international situation regionally, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers regard this year to be challenging, difficult, and unstable, largely caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with growing competition among countries, coupled with traditional and non-traditional security issues.

Despite facing plenty of difficulties throughout the year, the delegates agreed to state that ASEAN has been successful in building a shared community and will continue to affirm its central role as part of the regional structure.

The ASEAN diplomats therefore expressed their appreciation for Vietnamese efforts to actively lead the bloc in overcoming difficulties and building the regional community in a steadfast manner.

Each of the participants also pointed out the contents of co-operation that should be further promoted in the process of recovering post-pandemic growth, with a specific focus placed on ensuring the continuity of the supply chain, and restoring safe trade between nations. This should take place along with finalising negotiations towards the signing of new generation trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as narrowing the development gap in ASEAN by enhancing co-operation activities among sub-regions.

Foreign Ministers spent a lot of time discussing the current international and regional situation. Concerning issues relating to the East Sea, the Foreign Ministers basically agreed that the East Sea continues to represent an emerging problem in terms of the international and regional situation with issues including increased militarisation, unsubstantiated sovereignty claims, continuous imposing acts that raise concerns about peace and stability in the East Sea and throughout the region.

They also emphasised the importance of maintaining ASEAN centrality in the region. As part of the occasion, the Ministers gave their opinions on the criteria for considering the establishment of an ASEAN dialogue partnership. The meeting consented to permit Colombia, Cuba, and South Africa to participate in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and hold a signing ceremony to mark their efforts in the treaty in line with the agreed schedule.

As ASEAN Chair 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said ASEAN must show solidarity and cohesion in order to fulfill its priorities and initiatives during the 2020 ASEAN Year, realise the ASEAN Community Vision ahead to 2025, and effectively respond to the threat of emerging challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also extended thanks to every member state for their great support, which he said provided a firm foundation for the nation to successfully fulfill its role of ASEAN Chair 2020.

In relation to the international and regional situation, Deputy PM Minh expressed his great appreciation for ASEAN’s solidarity, considering this to be a key factor in ensuring the regional group’s peace, stability, independence, and self-reliance amid many global uncertainties.

Reaffirming the bloc’s unified position on the East Sea, the Deputy PM emphasised the need to restrain and avoid actions that complicate the situation and serve to harm the legitimate rights and interests of sovereign nations.

Furthermore, he also underlined the law-abiding spirit that is shared among other countries' assessment on the special importance of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which acts as the framework for all activities at sea.

The country therefore pledges to closely co-ordinate alongside ASEAN member states and China in order to both fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and swiftly achieve an effective and substantial Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in line with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, he said.

On the same day, Deputy PM Minh was joined by ASEAN Foreign Ministers as they attended a signing ceremony of the instruments of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Colombia, South Africa, and Cuba via an online platform.

Upon addressing the signing ceremony, the Deputy PM noted that the expansion of the TAC Treaty indicates ASEAN's international position and role in enhancing co-operation whilst simultaneously promoting regional and global peace and security. Moving forward, the three latest nations to join the treaty will fully comply with TAC’s objectives and principles.