Efforts and expectations for ASEAN at the heart of growth.

The focus of the AMM-56 Plenary Session was on the progress of ASEAN Community building, the implementation of the ASEAN Vision on the Indo- Pacific , external relations, and regional architecture.

Congratulating Indonesia on its achievements, particularly the impressive success of the recent ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, the countries reaffirmed their support for efforts to implement the Chair's priorities towards "A Greater ASEAN: A Hub of Growth".

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the plenary session of the AMM-56 Conference.

ASEAN is expected to become a hub of growth, attracting investment and resources for development. Compared to the overall global economic picture, ASEAN has maintained its growth momentum with positive signs in domestic consumption, exports, and recovery in the services sector.

To realize these expectations, the Ministers agreed to further strengthen ASEAN's resilience and adaptability in the face of all opportunities and challenges facing the region.

In a volatile strategic environment, ASEAN's unity and central role need to be further strengthened. ASEAN should take the lead in shaping an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture with the active participation and responsible contributions of partners to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Cooperation in areas such as financial stability, supply chain resilience, digital transformation in healthcare, energy security, and food security continues to be promoted through ASEAN's specialized channels, contributing to enhancing ASEAN's capacity and readiness to respond to and withstand current and future challenges.

The conference agreed to promote the effective implementation of the ASEAN Vision on the Indo-Pacific, encouraging partners to cooperate concretely and substantively with ASEAN in priority areas of connectivity, maritime cooperation, sustainable development and the economy, supporting ASEAN in building the Community, and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Sharing a common view on an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that ASEAN inevitably faces challenges both from within and outside. However, with the forging of the past 56 years, ASEAN has sufficient grounds to be proud and confident in a united and strong ASEAN Community.

ASEAN continues to be a bright spot with a positive growth forecast of 4.7% in 2023. Given the ongoing impact of the pandemic, ASEAN needs to prioritize economic and trade cooperation, effectively leveraging growth drivers to restructure its economy. ASEAN must seize opportunities to avoid being left behind.

Delegates attending the plenary session of the AMM-56 Conference.

The Minister welcomed the initiative of the ASEAN Chair 2023 to organize the ASEAN Forum on the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on infrastructure, sustainable development and the creative economy, and suggested that ASEAN pay more attention to other potential areas such as the circular economy, energy transition and climate change adaptation.

Affirming that peace, security, and stability are prerequisites for prosperity, the Minister emphasized ASEAN's tradition of dialogue and cooperation, strengthening trust, overcoming differences, and building consensus.

In its relations with partners, ASEAN needs to maintain a balanced approach, consult with partners on issues of common concern, and ensure adherence to ASEAN's fundamental principles, processes, and procedures. The Minister reaffirmed and requested that partners respect ASEAN's principled position on the South China Sea.

Hoang Anh

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