1. We, the Heads of State/Government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), gathered in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, for the 42nd ASEAN Summit on 10-11 May 2023 under the Chairmanship of the Republic of Indonesia. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and convened in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.

2. We reiterated our support for Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” and were encouraged by the progress made in the realization of ASEAN’s priorities in 2023, aimed to strengthen ASEAN as an organization that is robust and agile, equipped with strengthened capacity and institutional effectiveness to address today’s challenges and to remain relevant for its people, the region, and the world while continuing to serve as the region's epicentre of growth and prosperity.

3. Following our agreement, in principle, to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN, we welcomed the participation of the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste for the first time in the ASEAN Summit as observer. We reaffirmed our support for Timor-Leste in their efforts to embrace the path of ASEAN Community building.

4. We reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the ASEAN Community, ASEAN unity and centrality to maintain and promote peace, security, and stability in the region, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law.

5. We reiterated the importance of maintaining an ASEAN-centred regional architecture that is open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based, and we are working to strengthening our engagement with external partners in promoting peace, stability and development to enhance our regional resilience to response to common and emerging challenges.

6. We reaffirmed our strong commitment to upholding regionalism and multilateralism founded on the principles of the UN Charter and anchored in international law, and emphasized the importance of adhering to key principles, shared values, and norms enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), the ASEAN Charter, the Declaration on Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the 2011 Declaration on the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

7. We recalled the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Upholding Multilateralism and reaffirmed our belief that regionalism and multilateralism are important principles and frameworks of cooperation and that their strength and value lie in their inclusivity, rules-based nature, transparency and openness with emphasis on mutual benefit and respect.

8. We supported the strengthening of multilateralism, with the UN at its core, by reinforcing the principles of the UN Charter, ensuring that no one is left behind, and promoting mutually beneficial partnerships with the UN. In this connection, we look forward to concrete and successful outcomes of the SDG Summit and the High-Level Meetings on health-related issues, including on Universal Health Coverage at the UN in September this year, and to effective preparations for a successful Summit of the Future in 2024.

9. We committed to intensify our work towards a people-oriented, peoplecentered, and rules-based ASEAN, and continued to encourage the participation of the people and other stakeholders of ASEAN in the ASEAN Community building process.

ASEAN COMMUNITY BUILDING

10. We emphasized our dedicated efforts to sustain the momentum of ASEAN Community building, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and reiterated the importance of cross-pillar, cross-sectoral coordination and the significance of a holistic, coordinated response and coherent perspective in addressing the increasingly multidimensional character and complexities of issues facing ASEAN.

11. We noted with satisfaction the progress of the implementation of the recommendations of Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs) of the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025 and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. We commended the active efforts by ASEAN Member States and Sectoral Bodies across the three ASEAN Community pillars in ensuring the effective realisation of the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025 in the face of global and regional challenges.

12. We, in principle, endorsed the Core Elements of the ASEAN Community’s Post2025 Vision that would enable ASEAN to be responsive and adaptive amidst the fast-evolving world. In developing the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, we are cognizant of the need to balance pragmatism and ambition so that ASEAN remains stable and progressive while staying true to its identity.

13. We commended the convening of the first interface with the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) and were encouraged by of the progress of their works since its establishment in 2022. We supported the decision taken on the 20-year timeframe for the vision and encourage HLTF-ACV to develop a visionary, inspirational, robust, comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking ASEAN Community’s Post2025 Vision in an effective, efficient, balanced, inclusive, participatory, and coordinated manner, based on the Core Elements of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision.

14. We welcomed the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with the ASEAN InterParliamentary Assembly (AIPA), representatives of ASEAN youth, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) on the occasion of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, expanded further our engagement with other relevant stakeholders to continue contributing to the ASEAN Community building process.

15. We reiterated ASEAN’s resilience as a key priority in a highly-evolving regional and global security environment, and underscored the necessity for ASEAN to be forward-looking, to anticipate and address emerging challenges. We are determined to make Southeast Asia the centre of regional economic growth and an engine for global growth through robust cooperation, including in the food, energy, health, and finance sectors.

16. We noted the importance of the Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses to Emergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD), which focuses on a whole-of-ASEAN approach and enhanced cross-sectoral  coordination in preparing our people for the future.

KEY DELIVERABLES

ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth

17. We were deeply concerned with the rising cases of Trafficking in Person (TIP) exacerbated by the misuse of technology and therefore adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology, which emphasized the need to synergize various ASEAN mechanisms, modalities, and commitments and promote cross-pillar activities to address, prevent, and combat TIP.

18. We expressed concern over at the increasing cases of irregular movement of persons, including its connection to people smuggling and trafficking in persons in our region. We stressed that victims of trafficking have a fundamental right to be protected in accordance with international law and relevant international conventions.

19. We underscored the need to strengthen cross-sectoral and cross-pillar cooperation to combat transnational crimes and the contribution of the various ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, led by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), and look forward to the finalization of the Bohol Multi-Sectoral Work Plan Against Trafficking in Persons 2023-2028 and its subsequent implementation. We welcomed the adoption of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the National ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) Representatives, and looked forward to enhanced monitoring and reporting of the implementation of the ACTIP as guided by the TOR.

20. We acknowledged the contribution of migrant workers to the region’s economy and recognized the need to further strengthen the protection of migrant workers and their family members. In this regard, we adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations and the ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers. We look forward to the ongoing development of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations, the ASEAN Guidelines on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers.

21. We recognized the increased risk and vulnerabilities of each Member State towards the threats to humans, animals, plants, and the environment with epidemic and pandemic potential, including zoonoses, food hazards,antimicrobial resistance, climate change and underscored the importance of a multi-sectoral and collaborative One Health approach. In this regard, we adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on One Health Initiative to promote the One Health approach in the region.

22. We underscored the importance of promoting rural development and poverty eradication in the region, and the need to fast-track rural transformation. In this regard, we adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Establishment of an ASEAN Villages Network to establish a platform of collaboration among villages and also with external partners and private sectors.

23. We adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Developing Regional Electric Vehicle Ecosystem, recognizing the significant role of adopting electric vehicles to improve energy security in the region. We committed to developing a regional electric vehicle ecosystem that supports the adoption of electric vehicles and improving the electric vehicles industry in the ASEAN Member States as well as building ASEAN as a global production hub for the electric vehicles industry.

24. We adopted the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Advancing Regional Payment Connectivity and Promoting Local Currency Transaction to foster bilateral and multilateral payment connectivity arrangements to strengthen economic integration by enabling fast, seamless, and more affordable cross-border payments across the region. We commit to encourage the use of local currencies for economic and financial transactions among ASEAN Member States to deepen regional financial integration and promote the development of currency market in local currency to strengthen financial stability in the region.

25. Following decision to accept, in principle, Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN, we adopted the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership in ASEAN and its Annexes, and encouraged Timor-Leste to intensify efforts towards the preparations for its full ASEAN membership. We reaffirm support for Timor-Leste to achieve the milestones through the provision of capacitybuilding assistance and any other necessary and relevant support for TimorLeste’s full membership in ASEAN.

26. We emphasized the need for ASEAN to strengthen its capacity and institutional effectiveness to ensure its robustness and agility in facing present and future challenges and to match ASEAN’s commitment to advance regional integration and deepen its Community-building process. We took note of the Progress Report by the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) to the ASEAN Leaders at the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

27. We adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Strengthening of ASEAN’s Capacity and Institutional Effectiveness and the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision and encouraged the HLTF-ACV to continue drafting the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision, building upon the said Core Elements.We recognised that our new Vision should have political, economic and sociocultural relevance that binds our whole Community together, which can then truly help become a united, resilient and inclusive Community.

28. Recalling the recommendation of the HLTF-ACV on Strengthening ASEAN’s Capacity and Institutional Effectiveness in particular strengthening ASEAN decision-making process, we welcomed the progress of the development of a proposed outcome document to surface issues to the ASEAN Summit to arrive at decisions in a timely manner, including in urgent and specific situations through the ASEAN Coordinating Council and we looked forward to the finalization of the outcome document prior to the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

ASEAN OUTLOOK ON THE INDO-PACIFIC

29. Recalling the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Mainstreaming Four Priority Areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) within ASEAN-Led Mechanisms, and the ASEAN Roadmap for Promoting ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, we reaffirmed the common interest to maintain and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

30. We committed to mainstreaming the implementation of AOIP through concrete projects and activities based on its agreed principles and look forward to the convening of the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum: Implementation of AOIP this year that will focus on creative economy, infrastructure, business and investment and the role of youth on digital development for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By actively promoting and implementing the AOIP, we can ensure that ASEAN remains a platform for dialogue and cooperation toward continued progress, peace and prosperity.

31. We noted the interest and benefit to engage further with the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions while maintaining ASEAN Centrality, and looked forward to develop cooperation and establish a Secretariat-to-Secretariat cooperation between ASEAN- the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the ASEAN-the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as well as the participation of the Chairs of PIF and IORA as the Guests of the Chair at the 18th East Asia Summit.

32. We commended the ongoing work of the ADMM in developing the Concept Paper on the Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific from a Defence Perspective, which aimed at enhancing ASEAN's central and strategic role in addressing shared security challenges in the region, as well as strengthen its engagement with external partners to promote confidencebuilding measure, and looked forward to the adoption of the Paper and its implementation.

INITIATIVE FOR ASEAN INTEGRATION (IAI)

33. We reaffirmed the importance of narrowing the development gap within ASEAN to enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness as a region through among others, the implementation of the Initiative of ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plans. We commend the concerted effort of all stakeholders and their contribution to the positive progress in the implementation of the IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025) in jointly achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

ASEAN CONNECTIVITY

34. We underlined the importance of enhancing regional connectivity, as part of the Epicentrum of Growth, which encompasses economic and socio-cultural matters in support of the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic toward a sustainable and resilient future.

35. We commended the work of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, as well as the MPAC 2025 National Coordinators and National Focal Points in advancing the implementation of MPAC 2025 and ASEAN Connectivity and welcomed the finalization of the Assessment of Future Sustainable Infrastructure Trends and Priorities in a Post-Pandemic ASEAN, the City Technical Proposals for eight cities, and the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Report. We also looked forward to the finalization of the Framework on ASEAN Supply Chain Efficiency and Resilience and encouraged further efforts to promote people-to-people connectivity.

36. We reaffirmed our commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and agreed on the development of the ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Agenda as part of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. We underscored the importance of strengthening the engagement and coordination with private sectors, international and regional organizations, relevant stakeholders, and external partners, in supporting the implementation of MPAC 2025 and the development of the ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Agenda and its implementation.

37. We expressed our appreciation to our Dialogue Partners and other external partners for their continued support to MPAC 2025 as well as the growing interest in developing stronger cooperation on connectivity. We reaffirmed our commitment to forging further collaboration and cooperation, including through enhancing synergies between relevant connectivity initiatives within and beyond ASEAN in line with the Connecting the Connectivities Initiative and commended the successful convening of the in-person 13th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium on Enhancing Connectivity Towards an Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision and the ACCC Consultations with Dialogue Partners and Other External Partners on Connectivity.

ASEAN SMART CITIES NETWORK

38. We were pleased with the progress made by the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) at the city and network level. We welcomed the commencement of the project on Development of ASEAN Smart City Investment Toolkit. We commended Indonesia for organizing two ASEAN Smart Cities Network Discussion Series on Industry and Innovation as well as on Safety, Security, and Built Infrastructure. We appreciated our external partners' support and collaboration in implementing ASEAN Smart Cities Network Initiatives.

ASEAN POLITICAL-SECURITY COMMUNITY

39. We reaffirmed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) as the key code of conduct in governing inter-state relations in the region and as a foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability. We emphasized the importance of all High Contracting Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Treaty. We welcomed the growing interest of non-regional countries to accede to the TAC, on the basis of respect for and in conformity with the purposes and principles of the TAC and looked forward to the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Panama, and the United Mexican States to the TAC.

40. We reiterated our commitment to preserving the Southeast Asian region as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction as enshrined in the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) and the ASEAN Charter, and stressed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty.

41. We reaffirmed our commitment to continuously engage the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) and intensify efforts of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty. The Member States expressed their flexibility in exploring the possibility of allowing one NWS to sign onto the Protocol first if there was formal assurance in writing that they were willing to sign and ratify the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservations. In this regard, we noted ongoing discussions with all Nuclear Weapon States on the possible signing and ratification of the Protocol of the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservations. We encouraged our ASEAN experts to explore ways to bridge the differences, including the possibility of engaging with the NWS experts and tasked the relevant officials to work toward the submission of the biennial SEANWFZ Resolution through the First Committee of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

42. We welcomed the progress made by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on the promotion and protection of human rights through the implementation of its Five-Year Work Plan 2021- 2025, Priority Programmes and Activities on various topics and the successful convening of the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue 2022 in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the AHRD in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in November 2022. We also welcomed the convening the 36th Meeting of AICHR in Jakarta and the AICHR’s Country Learning Visit to Bogor, Indonesia to facilitate dialogues on various human rights issues with stakeholders and commended the continuous efforts of AICHR to work with ASEAN organs and other relevant stakeholders to mainstream human rights across all pillars of the ASEAN Community. We took note of the plan to convene the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue 2023 in Indonesia to further strengthen AICHR roles in upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region as well as institutionalizing the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue.

43. We stressed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Work Plan of the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (Bali Work Plan) 2019-2025 to address radicalization and violent extremism in the region in a holistic manner.

44. We welcomed the successful convening of the ASEAN Regional Conference on the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 UNCLOS: Promoting Legal Order for the Seas and Oceans in the ASEAN Secretariat on 29 November 2022, initiated by Indonesia and reaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlement, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interest over maritime zone. We further reaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector and that its integrity needs to be maintained.

45. We welcomed the adoption of the Concept Paper on the Development of an ASEAN Maritime Outlook (AMO) and looked forward to the publication of the first edition of the Outlook in the third quarter of 2023 to serve as a practical tool to understand regional maritime trends, strengthen synergies, and avoid duplication of work among relevant mechanism. We noted the discussion on the possible establishment of a Coast Guard Forum (ACF) in ASEAN and encouraged further consideration in this regard. We also supported the hosting and chairing of the annual ASEAN Maritime Forum back-to-back with the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) to follow the ASEAN’s chairmanship year. We noted various initiatives to strengthen the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) while ensuring ASEAN centrality.

46. We reiterated the importance of cross-sectoral and cross-pillar coordination to combat illicit drugs in the region and reaffirmed our commitment towards a drugfree region. We also remained steadfast in realizing this commitment amidst global attempts to reschedule certain types of illicit drugs.

47. We acknowledged the importance of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus as primary platforms for ASEAN defense establishments and their counterparts from the Plus countries to work closely in promoting security and stability in the region. We welcomed the defense sector's commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. We commended the progress made on practical defence cooperation under the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) for 2021-2024 on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, maritime security, counter-terrorism, military medicine, humanitarian mine action and cybersecurity. We further applauded the commencement of the Observership Program of the ADMM-Plus EWG activities this year and looked forward to deepening engagement with partner countries in the defense area.

48. We commended the ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM) and the ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) on the work in the area of laws and legal matters to support the ASEAN Community building processes and enhance ASEAN as a rules-based organization. We welcomed the significant progress in the negotiation of the ASEAN Extradition Treaty and looked forward to its conclusion, which will complement the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLAT).

49. We welcomed the progress of the work of the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Central Authorities on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (SOMMLAT) in formulating a template for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests and also looked forward to the inaugural Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers/Attorneys General Meeting of the Central Authorities on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (AMAG-MLAT) in ensuring effective implementation of the ASEAN MLAT which will further strengthen ASEAN’s capacity and resilience to combat transnational crimes.

50. We congratulated the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEANIPR) on the 10th Anniversary of its establishment and welcomed the completion of the ASEAN-IPR Research – Aceh Case: Peacebuilding and Post-Tsunami Recovery. We noted with appreciation by the ASEAN-IPR’s activities to promote the culture of peace and moderation in ASEAN and encouraged all ASEAN Member States to contribute to supporting the operations of theInstitute for each budget year, as agreed in the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN-IPR. We also noted ASEAN-IPR’s continued support for the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR) to implement the ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in ASEAN. We encouraged the ASEAN-IPR to engage with other relevant stakeholders, including the AWPR and Southeast Asian Network of Women Peace Negotiators and Mediators, to further implement the Joint Statement.

51. We commended the role of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) as a centre of excellence in promoting ASEAN’s efforts to address humanitarian aspects of landmines and explosive remnants of war, and raise awareness of the danger of ERW among affected communities. We reiterated the importance of mine action in national rehabilitation and sustainable development and welcomed efforts to promote mine action at the regional and global level, including at the UN.

d6e1314d260e5d82ab296690299d999e.pdf