Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet attends the meeting. (Photo: VNA) In her opening remarks, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Masurdi highlighted “many difficult circumstances in the region,” saying“the eyes of our peoples are on us to prove ASEAN still matters and cancontribute towards peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”
She reviewed efforts in building the ASEAN Communityover the past year, with preparations for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 inASEAN Concord IV.
“We continue taking a lead in shaping our regionaldynamics and ensuring a peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” she said.
“We are seeing more countries acceding to the TAC andbecoming partners of ASEAN.”
This shows ASEAN’s convening power a wide acceptanceof ASEAN’s norms and values, the minister emphasised.
However, ASEAN still has to face some challenges,including the situation in Myanmar, she said, stressing “ASEAN can only steamforward in full power if we can ensure a peaceful and lasting solution inMyanmar.”
As mandated by ASEAN leaders, the ministers willconduct a comprehensive review on the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) implementationand prepare a recommendation for the leaders’ deliberation at the 43rd ASEANSummit./.
VNA
