Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and other ASEAN ministers attended the 19th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC-19) Council Meeting and the 23rd Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC-23) on June 22 in Bangkok as part of the 34th ASEAN Summit.

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)

At the APSC-19, the ministers lauded the positive cooperation activities within the ASEAN Political-Security Community, including the adoption of the ASEAN Master Plan 2025 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

They agreed to continue strengthening efforts for practical and effective cooperation within the Political-Security pillar towards the goal of building a rule-based ASEAN for the people and peace, security and sustainable stability in the region.

Cooperation areas to be prioritized in the future include ensuring cyber security, drug and human trafficking combat, humanitarian support, natural disaster mitigation, maritime security, and nuclear security and safety.

The APSC members showed their delight 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 conduct steps for the mid-term review of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025 to timely overcome shortcomings and limitations as well as encourage the engagement of people from all social classes.

Meanwhile, at the ACC-23, the ministers agreed on the agenda of the 34th ASEAN Summit as well as draft documents to be submitted to the ASEAN leaders.

They recognised development in ASEAN cooperation since the 33rd Summit, while concurring to deploy 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 to expand regional economic connections, and concluding negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

They lauded the plan to put the new ASEAN headquarters building into operation.

Addressing the events, Deputy PM and FM Minh agreed on the need to make mid-term review of the progress of the master plans for the implementations of key pillars of the community, including the Political-Security Community.

To respond to impacts from countries’ trade tension, the association should speed up economic cooperation process, soon finalize the RCEP negotiations, and continue removing obstacles for trade and investment, and strengthening regional cooperation amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He proposed that member countries 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 maintaining the role and leading position of the ASEAN in processes of cooperation for peace, security and stability in the region.