Representatives of ASEAN member states and Russia pose for a group photo at the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Singapore (Photo: AFP/VNA) Singapore (VNA) – Representatives from ASEANpartner countries have stated their commitments to support the bloc’s centralrole in the regional structure at the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting(AMM 51) and related meetings in Singapore, which runs between July 30 and August4.
At an US – ASEAN ministerial meeting on August 3, US Secretaryof State Mike Pompeo said his country will maintain its role in a commitment topeace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its centre.
The message came along with a US funding of 113 million USDin support of technology, energy and infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific, whichwas announced just a few days before the opening of the AMM 51.
Meanwhile, India stated ASEAN is among priorities of itsdiplomacy for external relations, affirming its commitment to strengtheningcollaboration with the bloc, as well as to helping the grouping build itscommunity and boost regional connectivity.
India and ASEAN plan to foster cooperation across threepillars of the ASEAN Community, focusing on marine collaboration and trade-investmentfacilitation in order to lift bilateral trade to 200 billion USD in 2025.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said ASEANholds a leading role in Southeast Asia and a strong connection in the Indo-Pacificregion, adding that the power of the bloc’s solidarity will help maintain peaceand security and create other growth pushes.
Australia, as a dialogue partner of ASEAN, fully supportsthe bloc’s development goals in the long term, she affirmed, adding that the AustralianGovernment backs ASEAN in implementing the integration connectivity initiatives,maintaining its central role as well as peace and stability in the region.
For her part, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea(RoK) Kang Kyung-wha stressed that President Moon Jae-in’s ‘New SouthernPolicy’ places ASEAN at the centre of cooperation priorities, with a committeeset up to further develop the initiative.
Earlier, at the ministerial meetings between ASEAN andJapan, China, Russia, and New Zealand on August 2, the partner countries spokehighly of ASEAN’s role in the region and continued to affirm their support tothe bloc’s central role in the regional structure that is open, transparent,inclusive, and rule-based. The structure will be based on ASEAN-led mechanismslike the ASEAN plus three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEANDefence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the partner countries laudedan agreement between ASEAN and China on a single draft document on thenegotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).-VNA
VNA
