Efforts and expectations for an ASEAN at the epicenter of growth

The focus of the plenary session of the 56th AMM Conference was to discuss the process of building the ASEAN Community, implementing the ASEAN Vision on the Indo-Pacific, foreign relations and regional structure.

Congratulating Indonesia on its achievements, especially the impressive success of the recent ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, the countries reaffirmed their support for efforts to implement the Chair's priorities towards "A Great ASEAN: The Heart of Growth".

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the plenary session of the AMM-56 Conference.

ASEAN is expected to become a center of growth, attracting investment and resources for development. Compared to the general picture of the global economy, ASEAN still maintains its growth momentum with positive signals in domestic consumption, exports and recovery in the service industry.

To realize the above expectations, the Ministers agreed to further strengthen ASEAN's self-reliance and flexible adaptation to all opportunities and challenges facing the region.

In a volatile strategic environment, ASEAN’s solidarity and centrality need to be further affirmed. ASEAN needs to take the lead in shaping an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture with the active participation and responsible contribution of partners for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Cooperation in areas such as financial stability, supply chain resilience, digital healthcare, energy security, food security, etc. continues to be promoted through ASEAN's specialized channels, contributing to enhancing ASEAN's capacity and readiness to respond and be resilient to current and future challenges.

The conference agreed to promote the effective implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, encourage partners to cooperate specifically and substantially with ASEAN in priority areas of connectivity, maritime cooperation, sustainable development and economy, support ASEAN in building the Community, and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Sharing a common view of an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that ASEAN cannot avoid facing challenges both internally and externally. However, with the training over the past 56 years, ASEAN has enough basis to be proud and confident of a united and strong ASEAN Community.

ASEAN continues to be a bright spot with a positive growth forecast of 4.7% in 2023. With the impact of the pandemic still present, ASEAN needs to put economic and trade cooperation at the center of its mission, effectively exploiting growth drivers to restructure the economy. ASEAN needs to seize the opportunity to avoid being left behind.

Delegates attending the plenary session of the AMM-56 Conference.

The Minister welcomed the initiative of the 2023 ASEAN Chair to organize the ASEAN Forum on the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, with a focus on infrastructure, sustainable development and creative economy, and suggested that ASEAN pay more attention to other potential areas such as circular economy, energy transition and climate change adaptation.

Affirming that peace, security and stability are prerequisites for prosperity, the Minister promoted ASEAN's tradition of dialogue and cooperation, enhancing trust, overcoming differences and building consensus.

In its relations with partners, ASEAN needs to maintain a balanced approach, consult with partners on issues of mutual concern, and ensure compliance with ASEAN's basic principles, processes and procedures. The Minister reaffirmed and requested partners to respect ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea.

Kong Anh

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