AMM-56: FM Son attends EAS and PMC ASEAN-US meetings

Participating countries jointly reviewed orientations for co-operation and compared notes on international and regional situations, as well as preparing for the next summit slated for September in Indonesia.

EAS Foreign Ministers came together to highlight the special significance of the EAS as a forum for senior leaders to use it as a dialogue platform on strategic issues and step up co-operation for peace, security, stability, and sustainable prosperity in the region.

On that basis, countries pledged to further enhance the role of the EAS, using sincere dialogue, reliable consultation, and practical co-operation as the main tools in exchange.

The FMs therefore agreed to jointly contribute to improving the adaptability of countries, shaping an open, inclusive, and transparent regional architecture, whilst upholding international law with ASEAN being the centre.

The conference adopted the EAS Action Plan for the 2024 to 2028 period, with 16 specific areas, such as sustainable development, maritime ties, trade promotion, connectivity, education, food security, and empowerment for women.

At the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the ministers affirmed that they will continue developments in co-operation after the success of the Commemorative Summit held in May, 2022, whilst seeking to further promote the ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.

The delegates also pledged to work together to deepen economic, trade, and investment ties, along with responding to non-traditional security challenges.

Simultaneously, ASEAN and the US will strive to bolster linkages in energy transformation, science and technology, innovation, sustainable infrastructure development, environmental protection, and climate change response.

ASEAN therefore welcomed the proposal put forward by the US to participate in co-operation in implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

As part of this occasion, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the establishment of an ASEAN-US Center to support these efforts.

Speaking at the meetings, FM Bui Thanh Son highlighted the important achievements of the EAS, while emphasising that through consultation, the EAS has contributed to promoting a culture of dialogue and collaboration as a means of increasing similarities, narrowing differences, and enhancing trust among countries.

The Vietnamese diplomat highly appreciated the commitments and support shown by partners for ASEAN, stressing that those commitments need to be expressed in actions, through both active participation and effective contributions to ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Hailing the strong co-operation results between the bloc and the US, FM Son affirmed that ASEAN will work closely alongside the US to bring the comprehensive strategic partnership to a substantive, effective, and mutually-beneficial development. This will serve to contribute to enhancing dialogue, as well as shaping and sharing standards of conduct among countries.

Minister Son emphasised that priority should be given to promoting economics, trade, science and technology, innovation, and creativity as key areas and driving force for ASEAN-US co-operation.

He underlined the need to augment ties to ensure a sustainable future for one billion people of the two sides through co-operation in health care, education, human resource development, green transformation, and sustainable development.

FM Son suggested the two sides pay closer attention to and effectively support sub-regional development as a means of contributing to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth in the region.

At the meetings, countries had a wide-ranging discussion on international and regional issues of shred concern, thereby affirming their support for ASEAN's efforts, whilst taking a balanced and objective approach with a common stance on these issues.

Sharing opinions at the meetings, Minister Son suggested that partners should show respect and support for the bloc’s central role in practice, whilst working alongside the regional bloc to promote dialogue, consultation, and building trust. This should go along with responding to common challenges whilst striving to build an open, transparent, and inclusive regional architecture and uphold international law.

FM Son affirmed ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, asking partners to continue to support and make responsible contributions to ASEAN-led efforts in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the East Sea.

This is in addition to building an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and striving to build the East Sea into a sea area of peace, co-operation, and sustainable development.