Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (sixth, right) and other officials pose for a photo at the 19th ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting in Bangkok on June 22 (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh and other ASEAN ministers attended the 19th ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity (APSC-19) Council Meeting and the 23rd Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC-23) on June 22 in Bangkok aspart of the 34th ASEAN Summit.
At the APSC-19, the ministerslauded the positive cooperation activities within the ASEAN Political-Security Community, including the adoptionof the ASEAN Master Plan 2025 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities andthe Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, EspeciallyWomen and Children.
They agreed to continuestrengthening efforts for practical and effective cooperation within the Political-Securitypillar towards the goal of building a rule-based ASEAN for the people andpeace, security and sustainable stability in the region.
Cooperation areas to beprioritized in the future include ensuring cyber security, drug and humantrafficking combat, humanitarian support, natural disaster mitigation, maritimesecurity, and nuclear security and safety.
The APSC members showed theirdelight at the progress of the partnership between the ASEAN and partners,highly valuing countries’ wish to strengthen cooperation with the association,which showed the grouping’s attraction in the international community.
They agreed to soon conductsteps for the mid-term review of the ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity Blueprint 2025 to timely overcome shortcomings and limitations aswell as encourage the engagement of people from all social classes.
Meanwhile, at the ACC-23, theministers agreed on the agenda of the 34th ASEAN Summit as well as draftdocuments to be submitted to the ASEAN leaders.
They recognised developmentin ASEAN cooperation since the 33rd Summit, while concurring todeploy comprehensive measures to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,with focus on strengthening coordination among key pillars and sectors,enhancing the efficiency of the ASEAN structure, and promoting efforts toexpand regional economic connections, and concluding negotiations for theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
They lauded the plan to putthe new ASEAN headquarters building into operation.
Addressing the events, DeputyPM and FM Minh agreed on the need to make mid-term review of the progress ofthe master plans for the implementations of key pillars of the community,including the Political-Security Community.
To respond to impacts fromcountries’ trade tension, the association should speed up economic cooperationprocess, soon finalize the RCEP negotiations, and continue removing obstaclesfor trade and investment, and strengthening regional cooperation amidst theFourth Industrial Revolution.
He proposed that membercountries uphold common values and norms of conduct mutually recognized.Alongside, the ASEAN should work harder to build trust through conduct norms,including the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), while continuing maintainingthe role and leading position of the ASEAN in processes of cooperation forpeace, security and stability in the region.-VNA
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