ASEAN Foreign Ministers for Strengthening Core Principles

 Keywords: ASEAN, Institutional Capacity, Timor Leste, Myanmar, ASEAN Centrality

Date: 19th August, 2024

On 25^th July 2024, foreign ministers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Vientiane, the capital city of Lao PDR, to participate in the 57^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting reiterated the importance of maintaining a central, open, inclusive, transparent, resilient, and rules-based regional architecture within ASEAN that upholds international law. 

It also stressed the important role of ASEAN in promoting peace, stability, security, development, and growth and for enhancing regional resilience against common and emerging challenges. The significance of ASEAN’s engagement and cooperation with Dialogue Partners and other external partners through ASEAN-led mechanisms was also emphasized to achieve these goals. 

Under the Lao PDR's chairmanship, the regional bloc has identified a few priority areas and key deliverables for 2024 to enhance ASEAN connectivity and resilience. These include integrating and connecting economies; forging an inclusive and sustainable future; transforming for a digital future; development of strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; enhancing ASEAN centrality; promoting environmental cooperation and climate change resilience; transforming ASEAN health development resilience among others. 

The Joint Communiqué adopted at the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening ASEAN's institutional capacity. The need to enhance the role of Secretary-General of ASEAN and resource mobilization for the ASEAN Secretariat were emphasized to support the bloc’s work and strengthen capacity and institutional effectiveness. 

The ASEAN ministers also underscored the importance of the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on the development of strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. These strategic plans are being developed collaboratively across the three ASEAN Community Pillars (Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural) and ASEAN Connectivity to ensure synergy and a holistic approach covering cross-pillar issues. 

The meeting noted the significant progress in implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 over the past few years. The success has been attributed to the collaborative efforts of several key entities, including the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Connectivity (ACCC), Lead Implementing Bodies and ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and National Coordinators, National Focal Points, and Relevant National Agencies. The grouping also acknowledged the ongoing support from its external partners in connectivity-related activities and events. 

The ASEAN meeting also encouraged sustained collaboration between ASEAN and its external partners to explore further and undertake practical cooperation initiatives, reinforcing ASEAN's connectivity efforts. Importantly, the meeting expressed hope for the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Enhancing Supply Chain Connectivity. The declaration is significant as it aims to achieve two main criteria. 

First, providing guidance for relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and stakeholders to enhance the resilience and competitiveness of regional supply chains. Second, taking into account the unique situations and needs of each ASEAN member state, ensuring that the approach is inclusive and adaptable. The declaration is a key step towards strengthening ASEAN's economic resilience and competitiveness. 

The regional foreign ministers also reiterated ASEAN’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste's journey towards full membership by emphasizing the importance of the objective and criteria-based Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Full Membership in ASEAN. The ASEAN meeting recognized the progress Timor-Leste has made in implementing the roadmap and encouraged it to continue fostering good relations with all ASEAN member states. This is crucial to demonstrate its readiness to abide by the ASEAN Charter. 

The need to keep the focus on ASEAN’s unity and centrality in its external relations through mechanisms like ASEAN Plus One and ASEAN Plus Three was reiterated. The meeting noted positive progress in relations with Dialogue and Development Partners, facilitated by action plans and cooperation programmes. 

ASEAN's commitment to inclusive and outward-looking collaboration was underscored at a time when there has been increasing interest from external entities to deepen partnerships. The regional foreign ministers’ meeting was followed by the 31^st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) 10+1 Sessions with the Dialogue Partners and Trilateral Meetings, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 14^th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. These engagements ensure ASEAN's centrality in the region. 

The ASEAN foreign ministers also expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. ASEAN has called for an immediate end to violence, urging all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilians, and facilitate humanitarian aid and inclusive dialogue. The meeting welcomed the progress of ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) under Phase 1 and Phase 2, with around USD 1.88 million distributed for food and non-food items to affected regions in Myanmar. AHA Centre and Thailand were given special mention for their humanitarian initiatives. 

ASEAN urged for safe, transparent aid delivery and additional financial support from the international community, particularly for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The meeting also praised H.E. Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy on Myanmar, for his efforts to advance the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and facilitate dialogue. The informal consultation among ASEAN Chairs was noted, with anticipation for future participation from other ASEAN Member States.

The appointment of H.E. Julie Bishop as the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar was welcomed, emphasizing close coordination between her role and the ASEAN special envoy. Finally, ASEAN plans to comprehensively review the implementation of the 5PC and submit recommendations to the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

The ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting under the leadership of Lao PDR addressed several issues involving internal functioning of the regional bloc and took steps to enhance supply chain connectivity that is inclusive and adaptable to each member state. At the same time, the meeting reiterated some of the core guiding principles of the grouping including inclusive approach within the region and ASEAN centrality in its engagement with external players.

Sampa Kundu is a Consultant, ASEAN-India Centre, Research and Information System for Developing Countries, RIS, New Delhi.

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