Jakarta, May 19 (AseanAll) — ASEAN and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to advancing development partnership at the Second ASEAN-Netherlands Development Partnership Committee (AN-DPC) Meeting, held on May 19, 2025 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
ASEAN and the Netherlands exchanged updates on developments in ASEAN, including Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship priorities under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”; ASEAN’s efforts in promoting sustainable development; advancements in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network; as well as progress in the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV. The Meeting took note of recent developments in the Netherlands, including its perspective on on-going global dynamics.
The Meeting welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Netherlands Development Partnership Practical Cooperation Areas (2025–2029), which was adopted in January this year. The Meeting noted the need for closer cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including law of the sea; peace and reconciliation; combatting transnational crime; maritime cooperation; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); science, technology and innovation; energy transition, including potential support to the ASEAN Power Grid initiative; food security; smart agriculture; higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); creative industry; people-to-people exchanges including through capacity-building activities; health; water management; climate change; green growth; cybersecurity; digital economy; blue economy; connectivity, including sustainable port management; and the four priorities under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The Meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to ASEAN, Marc Gerritsen. It was attended by the Permanent Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Aldrik Gierveld, and their respective delegations. Timor-Leste participated as Observer.
