Jakarta, May 28 (AseanAll) — The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, held a meeting on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
This meeting highlighted the progress made under the ASEAN-France Development Partnership (AFDP) and reaffirmed the mutually-beneficial vision to further strengthening the AFDP since its establishment in 2020.
The President and the Secretary-General of ASEAN discussed the following ongoing areas of cooperation, including in the fields of air quality, marine pollution, energy efficiency, and the ASEAN Power Grid, through the French Development Agency, as well as in the areas of cultural and creative industries, with the upcoming launch of the CREATIVE ASEAN Project; capacity building, especially for ASEAN officials; and wildfire prevention, through the ASEAN-France Fund.
In this regard, the Secretary-General of ASEAN welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN-France Fund and France’s EUR 1 million contribution made to the Fund last year, which has supported the implementation of the ASEAN-France Development Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas (2022-2026).
The President and the Secretary-General of ASEAN explored new avenues for cooperation in political-security, economic and socio-cultural matters, including by supporting implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
They also exchanged views on the international and regional issues, notably on the situations in Myanmar, South China Sea, Middle East and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to enhance regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
The President and the Secretary-General of ASEAN also exchanged views on the outcomes of the 46th ASEAN Summit, held on 26–27 May in Kuala Lumpur under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship. The President welcomed the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future and expressed France’s determination to continue its cooperation with ASEAN and its Member States, particularly in support of the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.
The President and the Secretary-General of ASEAN reaffirmed their determination to jointly tackle environmental challenges, particularly the impact of climate change, and the promotion of sustainable development and marine pollution. In this regard, the President and the Secretary-General of ASEAN looked forward to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), to be held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, which will represent a key milestone in international efforts to preserve and sustainably use the ocean.
