Luang Prabang, January 29 (AseanAll) — ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat Meeting (AMM) was held on January 29,2024 in Luang Prabang province,Laos.
Chaired by Lao Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith under the slogan "Increasing ASEAN connectivity and strength". Participating in this meeting were ASEAN Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Timor Leste on behalf of observer country and ASEAN Secretariat General.
The meeting reviewed and took note of the progress of the implementation of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and other related summits held in September 2023 in Indonesia and discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The meeting also discussed the formal and sustainable way to continue strengthening the ASEAN Community, the centrality and strength of ASEAN in the midst of various regional and international challenges. The meeting was aware of the good progress of the implementation of the 3 ASEAN Community Master Plans and agreed that the review and comprehensive assessment of the final phase of the ASEAN Community Master Plans and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 will begin soon.
Currently, ASEAN is in the process of creating the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, including the strategic plan to implement this vision. In response to this issue, the meeting expressed appreciation to the high-level task force on the vision of the ASEAN Community after 2025 in drafting the vision of the ASEAN Community 2045 to create: a strong, innovative, flexible and people-centered ASEAN Community .
The meeting successfully promoted the drafting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Strategic Plan, the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan, the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community Strategic Plan and the ASEAN Connection Strategic Plan completed during Lao PDR's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. The vision along with the strategic plans will be adopted in 2025.
The meeting also discussed and supported 9 priorities for Lao PDR's ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 that focus on 2 main elements: "Increasing connectivity" and "Increasing strength". Under the element of increasing connectivity, there are 4 priorities: (1) economic integration and connectivity, (2) creating an inclusive and sustainable future, (3) transitioning to digital in the future, and (4) culture and art: promoting the role of culture and art in ASEAN in an inclusive and sustainable way. Under the element of increasing strength, there are 5 priorities: (1) Creating strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, (2) Strengthening the centrality of ASEAN, (3) Promoting environmental cooperation: strength against climate change, (4) Women and children: promoting the role of women and children in order to move forward in a systematic way, and (5) Public health: transitioning to the strength of ASEAN public health in the new situation.
The meeting also discussed the cooperation between ASEAN and the world, including the proposals of some countries to be ASEAN's partners. The meeting emphasized the importance of strengthening the unity and centrality of ASEAN in dealing with external partners through mechanisms with ASEAN as the leader. Also, the meeting was informed about the progress of the preparation of important meetings such as the special summit meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia cooperation to be held on March 6, in Melbourne, Australia under the co-chairmanship of the Lao PDR and Australia and the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held on February 2, in Brussels, Belgium.
In addition, the meeting also exchanged opinions on regional and international situations of mutual interest.
