ASEAN member countries discuss strengthening connectivity
Jakarta (VNA) – The First Meeting of the ASEAN
Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) for 2023 was held on February 21 with a
discussion on ASEAN Connectivity, particularly the implementation of the
Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025.
At the meeting, Ambassador Derry Aman, Permanent Representative
of Indonesia to ASEAN and Chair of the ACCC for 2023,
appreciated Cambodia’s successful chairmanship in 2022, and affirmed
Indonesia’s commitment to the ASEAN Community building efforts, especially on
ASEAN Connectivity.
He shared the three Pillars of Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN
2023, including ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth, and Mainstreaming the ASEAN
Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The official also conveyed Indonesia’s priorities in the areas of food and
energy security, regional health architecture, and financial stability, as well
as the Flagship Events of the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum on Youth, Creative
Economy, Infrastructure and Business and Investment Summit.
He further underscored the importance of connectivity as one of
the priority areas under the AOIP, and also stated that implementing the Master
Plan of ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) is part of the Epicentrum of Growth.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed the
ASEAN Secretariat’s support for the work of the ACCC and underscored several
key messages to strengthen ASEAN Connectivity cooperation: translating regional
initiatives to the national level; deepening and broadening engagement with
external partners; leveraging synergies between MPAC 2025, AOIP, and other
connectivity initiatives led by external partners; and engaging the broader
stakeholders, including the private sector, in a whole-of-community approach.
Participants discussed Indonesia’s priorities
on connectivity as ACCC Chair for 2023, and reviewed the implementation status
of initiatives and projects under MPAC 2025./.