KhanhHoa (VNA) - TheASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was held in Nha Trang city in thesouth-central province of Khanh Hoa on January 16-17 under the chair ofVietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham BinhMinh.

Thefollowing is the Press Statement by the Chairman of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Retreat.

1. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Retreat was convened on January 16-17, 2020 in Nha Trang. The Retreat is thefirst gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 2020 under the theme“Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN”. 

2. We had in-depth discussions on ASEAN’s priorities for theyear 2020 and the way forward for the ASEAN Community building, strengtheningof ASEAN’s external relations and reinforcement of ASEAN-centered regionalarchitecture. We also exchanged views on regional and internationaldevelopments as well as how ASEAN can effectively respond to challenges andopportunities arising from the regional and international dynamics while beingable to maintain unity, cohesiveness and centrality in the interest of peace,security, stability, prosperity and sustainability in the region and beyond. Inthis regard, we also reaffirmed ASEAN’s strong commitment to open regionalismand multilateralism.

3. We reaffirmed our shared commitments to maintaining andpromoting peace, security and stability in the region, as well as to thepeaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal anddiplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, inaccordance with the universally recognized principles of international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

4. ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed support for Vietnam’s mainpriorities and proposed key deliverables under the theme “Cohesive andResponsive ASEAN” in 2020, which are in line with the consistent goals of ASEANCommunity building and in continuity with the ongoing efforts of the previousASEAN Chairs. The Ministers stressed the importance of strengthening ASEANunity, cohesiveness, deepening ASEAN economic integration, enhancingintra-ASEAN trade and investment, promoting sustainable development, andenhancing connectivity and sub-regional cooperation, including the Mekongsub-regional development, and promoting a prominent image and visibility of theASEAN Community while being pro-active in response to unfolding opportunitiesand challenges from the fast-changing regional and global landscapes as well asthe swift development of technology in the advent of the Fourth IndustrialRevolution (4IR). The Ministers looked forward to the outcomes of the mid-termreview of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 Blueprints in 2020 and agreed to takea forward-looking approach by initiating discussions on the ASEAN vision beyond2025. The Ministers also agreed to enhance environment protection andcooperation, particularly on climate change, marine debris, and transboundaryhaze pollution, as well as in the areas of sustainable development, women empowermentand gender equality. 

5. We agreed to follow-up on the discussions of Leaders duringthe 34th and 35th ASEAN Summits including, among others, enhancing existingpartnerships and exploring new ones with a view to share the region’s outlookbased on mutual respect and benefit; optimising the use of the ASEANSecretariat new building for efficiency of the conduct of ASEAN activities; andbetter preparing the ASEAN Community to face existing and forthcomingchallenges such as natural disasters by diversifying sources of funding.

6. We reaffirmed the importance and relevance of the Treaty ofAmity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) as the key code of conductgoverning inter-state relations in the region and a foundation for maintainingregional peace and stability. We are committed to further promoting thepurposes and principles of the TAC. We welcomed the growing interests ofnon-regional countries to accede to the TAC on the basis of respect for and inconformity with the purposes and principles of the TAC and agreed to considernew applications in accordance with the Revised Guidelines for Accession to theTAC.

7. We reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN Outlook on theIndo-Pacific (AOIP) as a guide for ASEAN’s engagement with the wider Asia-Pacificand Indian Oceans. We agreed to continue promoting further the purposes andprinciples contained in the Outlook, as well as encouraging external partnersto support and undertake pratical cooperation with ASEAN in four key areas ofcooperation, namely maritime, connectivity, sustainable development andeconomic cooperation.

8. We noted the successful conduct of the APSC Fact-FindingMission (FFM) to Timor-Leste on September 3-5, 2019 and looked forward to theFact-Finding Missions of the AEC and ASCC to Timor-Leste, which wouldcontribute to the consideration of Timor-Leste’s application for ASEANmembership. We reaffirmed our commitments to support Timor-Leste throughcapacity building assistance at the bilateral and regional levels. 

9. We noted the on-going preparations for the ASEAN-New ZealandLeaders’ Summit in commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the ASEAN-NewZealand Dialogue Relations, which shall be held on April 9, 2020 in Da Nang,Vietnam after the conclusion of the 36th ASEAN Summit. In this regard, wesupported the proposal for adoption of a Joint Vision Statement by the Leadersof ASEAN and New Zealand as an outcome document of the Summit.

10. We discussed the ASEAN-US relations and agreed that frequenthigh-level engagements between the Leaders would be of crucial importance. Wewelcomed the invitation by President of the US to convene a Special Summit tocommemorate the 5th Anniversary of ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership this year andwould report this to the Leaders for final decision. We also looked forward towelcoming the US President to the ASEAN related Summits this November in Hanoi.

11. We emphasized the significance of the year 2020 to theASEAN-UN comprehensive partnership as it marks the 75th Anniversary of the UN,during which Indonesia and Vietnam are elected non-permanent members of theUnited Nations Security Council in 2020. We supported the proposal of Vietnamas the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in January 2020to hold a Briefing by ASEAN at the UNSC on the topic of “Cooperation betweenthe UN and regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining internationalpeace and security: The Role of ASEAN”, in January 2020 in New York.

12. We noted France’s application for the status of ASEAN DevelopmentPartner. We agreed to task the Secretary-General of ASEAN to conduct anassessment of the application, and make recommendations in due course.

13. We reaffirmed the need for ASEAN to be more visible and toplay an enhanced role in supporting Myanmar through providing humanitarianassistance, facilitating the repatriation process, and promoting sustainabledevelopment in Rakhine State. We noted the progress and appreciated the effortsof the Secretary-General of ASEAN in leading the implementation of therecommendations of the ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT)Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA) to facilitate the repatriation of displacedpersons in Rakhine State. We noted the establishment of an Ad-hoc Support Team(AHAST) of the ASEAN Secretariat to focus on supporting the implementation ofthe recommendations of the PNA and look forward to the conduct of theComprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). We tasked AHAST to identify furtherconcrete projects through which ASEAN could help improve the ground conditionsin Rakhine State. We encouraged the continued dialogue between Myanmar andBangladesh to facilitate the repatriation process of displaced persons from RakhineState. We welcomed the second visit of High-Level Mission from Myanmar togetherwith representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the AHA Centre, includingASEAN-ERAT members to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, from December 18-19, 2019 toshare the information on arrangements made by Myanmar for prospectivereturnees. We recalled the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons fromRakhine State between Myanmar and Bangladesh signed in 2017 and looked forwardto the voluntary return of displaced persons in a safe, secure and dignifiedmanner. We reiterated the need to find a comprehensive and durable solution toaddress the root cause of the conflict and to create a conducive environment sothat the affected communities can rebuild their lives. We also reaffirmedASEAN’s continued support for Myanmar’s efforts to bring peace, stability andthe rule of law, to promote harmony and reconciliation among the variouscommunities as well as to ensure sustainable and equitable development inRakhine State.  

14. We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promotingpeace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflightabove the South China Sea and recognised the benefits of having the South ChinaSea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity. We underscored the importanceof the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. We were encouraged bythe progress of the substantive negotiations towards the early conclusion of aneffective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that isconsistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We emphasised theneed to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations,and thus welcomed practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk ofaccidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation. We stressed the importance ofundertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance, amongothers, trust and confidence amongst parties; and we reaffirmed the importanceof upholding international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. 

15. We discussed the situation in the South China Sea, duringwhich concerns were expressed on the land reclamations, recent developments andserious incidents, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensionsand may undermine peace, security and stability in the region. We reaffirmedthe need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in theconduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate thesituation and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance withinternational law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We reaffirmed that internationallaw, including the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining sovereignty,sovereign rights and legitimate interests over maritime areas. We furtherreaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the overarching framework of legal order forthe seas that must be respected by all countries. We emphasised the importanceof non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities byclaimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the DOC that couldfurther complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South ChinaSea. 

16. We stressed the importance of continued peaceful dialogueamongst all concerned parties towards lasting peace and stability in adenuclearised Korean Peninsula. To this end, we urged all concerned parties toresume peaceful dialogue and continue working constructively, including throughthe full and expeditious implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration, thePyongyang Joint Declaration and the Joint Statement by the US and DPRK Leaders.We reiterated our commitment to the full implementation of all relevant UnitedNations Security Council Resolutions and noted international efforts to bringabout the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the KoreanPeninsula. We also underscored the importance of ASEAN-led platforms such asthe ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in promoting a conducive atmosphere for dialogueamongst the concerned parties.  

17. We remained concerned over the situation in the Middle Eastand reiterated our call on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint andavoid acts that may aggravate the situation and to resolve differences throughdiplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability inthe region. 

18. We stressed the importance of intensifying regional effortsand cooperation in tackling non-traditional security challenges such asterrorism and violent extremism, transnational crimes, maritime security, cyberthreat and water security.

19. We welcomed Singapore’s nomination of Mr. Daren Tang, ChiefExecutive of Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), as the candidatefrom ASEAN for the position of Director-General of the World IntellectualProperty Organisation./.