Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem presided over the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in Hanoi on July 21 within the framework of the 43 rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings.
He also chaired the Informal Consultations among East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers.
At the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ministers of ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) reviewed the progress of ASEAN Plus Three’s Cooperation in the past year and discussed the future direction for cooperation.
They agreed to move forward the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan (2007-2017) and effectively utilise the ASEAN+3 Cooperation Fund; intensify cooperation in monetary areas, including effective implementation of the Multilateralisation of the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMIM), and foster the Initiative of Asia Bond Market, strengthening coordination and exchanging macro monetary policies.
They also reached agreement on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, in particular, ensuring the on-schedule implementation of FTA+1 agreements between ASEAN and China, and Japan, and the RoK; along with promoting a feasibility study on the East Asia Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA).
On regional and international issues, ASEAN and the three countries agreed to enhance policy coordination in global efforts to respond to climate change, especially in the lead up to preparations for the COP-16 in Mexico; the three countries welcomed and supported the regular participation of the ASEAN Chair at the G-20 Summits; the two sides also exchanged views on developments in the Korean Peninsula.
At the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Informal Consultations, the ministers focused their discussion on realising the outcome of the 4 th East Asia Summit as well as preparing for the 5th East Asia Summit.
The ministers noted that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the EAS process and is therefore an opportune time for participating countries to review the past journey, while mapping out directions for the years to come.
They reaffirmed the principle and nature of the EAS as a leaders-led forum focusing on strategic and policy dialogue in the region and agreed to deepen cooperation on five priority areas and enhance coordination in global efforts to address world challenges such as the global financial crisis and climate change.
The ministers also agreed to propose a stand-alone Statement be issued on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the EAS by the Fifth East Asia Summit this year.
The ministers welcomed the expressed interests of Russia and the US to be members of the EAS and will recommend to ASEAN Leaders for a formal decision by the 17 th ASEAN Summit. They emphasised ASEAN’s centrality in the process, and reiterated the established principles and goals of the EAS.
At the two meetings, the Dialogue Partners reaffirmed their support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional cooperation processes and in shaping regional architecture; and undertook to closely work with ASEAN to intensify cooperation programmes and priorities within these two processes, including the contribution of the two processes towards community building in East Asia.
ASEAN and these partners also agreed to work further to strengthen ASEAN connectivity, including implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity which will also lay foundations for the connectivity in East Asia.
At the end of those two meetings, the Chairman issued a statement on the outcome of the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Informal Consultations among EAS Foreign Ministers.
The same day, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from the Republic of Korea had a working lunch to discuss preparations for the upcoming G-20 Summit to be held in Seoul in November 2010, including how best ASEAN could contribute to the Summit./.
He also chaired the Informal Consultations among East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers.
At the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ministers of ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) reviewed the progress of ASEAN Plus Three’s Cooperation in the past year and discussed the future direction for cooperation.
They agreed to move forward the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan (2007-2017) and effectively utilise the ASEAN+3 Cooperation Fund; intensify cooperation in monetary areas, including effective implementation of the Multilateralisation of the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMIM), and foster the Initiative of Asia Bond Market, strengthening coordination and exchanging macro monetary policies.
They also reached agreement on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, in particular, ensuring the on-schedule implementation of FTA+1 agreements between ASEAN and China, and Japan, and the RoK; along with promoting a feasibility study on the East Asia Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA).
On regional and international issues, ASEAN and the three countries agreed to enhance policy coordination in global efforts to respond to climate change, especially in the lead up to preparations for the COP-16 in Mexico; the three countries welcomed and supported the regular participation of the ASEAN Chair at the G-20 Summits; the two sides also exchanged views on developments in the Korean Peninsula.
At the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Informal Consultations, the ministers focused their discussion on realising the outcome of the 4 th East Asia Summit as well as preparing for the 5th East Asia Summit.
The ministers noted that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the EAS process and is therefore an opportune time for participating countries to review the past journey, while mapping out directions for the years to come.
They reaffirmed the principle and nature of the EAS as a leaders-led forum focusing on strategic and policy dialogue in the region and agreed to deepen cooperation on five priority areas and enhance coordination in global efforts to address world challenges such as the global financial crisis and climate change.
The ministers also agreed to propose a stand-alone Statement be issued on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the EAS by the Fifth East Asia Summit this year.
The ministers welcomed the expressed interests of Russia and the US to be members of the EAS and will recommend to ASEAN Leaders for a formal decision by the 17 th ASEAN Summit. They emphasised ASEAN’s centrality in the process, and reiterated the established principles and goals of the EAS.
At the two meetings, the Dialogue Partners reaffirmed their support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional cooperation processes and in shaping regional architecture; and undertook to closely work with ASEAN to intensify cooperation programmes and priorities within these two processes, including the contribution of the two processes towards community building in East Asia.
ASEAN and these partners also agreed to work further to strengthen ASEAN connectivity, including implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity which will also lay foundations for the connectivity in East Asia.
At the end of those two meetings, the Chairman issued a statement on the outcome of the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Informal Consultations among EAS Foreign Ministers.
The same day, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from the Republic of Korea had a working lunch to discuss preparations for the upcoming G-20 Summit to be held in Seoul in November 2010, including how best ASEAN could contribute to the Summit./.
