Chaired by Vietnamese Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem, the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings were kick-started in Hanoi with the 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Political Security Community Council (APSC) and the Meeting of the Commission for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ).
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The 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Political Security Community Council (APSC), Hanoi, July 19, 2010
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At the 4th APSC Meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers reviewed of the realization of the APSC Blueprint since the 3rd Meeting of the Council as well as cooperation activities undertaken by various bodies under the APSC.
The Ministers welcomed recent positive developments such as the first ADMM Plus with 8 Dialogue Partners in 2010; and the meeting of ASEAN–China Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the Eastern Sea (DOC); progress within the framework of AICHR and TAC as well as cooperation in disaster management.
For future implementation of the APSC Blueprint, the Ministers stressed the importance of effective and balanced development of the APSC; agreed to further strengthen efforts to implement 14 priority areas of the APSC while considering and updating the list of priority areas to allow ASEAN better prepared and responsive to emerging challenges.
The Ministers agreed to bring into full play ASEAN’s established mechanisms to ensure peace and security in the region such as the TAC, SEANWFZ, DOC, ARF. To that extent, ASEAN shall develop practical and concrete programs and measures to carry out the Plan of Action to Implement the ARF Vision Statement; effectively implement the DOC; complete necessary procedures for the signing of the 3rd Protocol amending the TAC to facilitate the early accession of EU/EC to the Treaty; as well as intensified cooperation to assist people and vessels in distress at sea.
The Ministers supported the proposal on strengthening cooperation among Chiefs of Homeland Security of ASEAN Member States, and agreed to work further with the relevant sectoral bodies on the idea.
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Deputy PM, FM Pham Gia Khiem presides over the Meeting of the Commission for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ), Hanoi, July 19, 2010
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At the Meeting of the Commission for the SEANWFZ, the Ministers agreed to intensify efforts in implementing the Plan of Action to Strengthen the SEANWFZ Treaty, including continued consultations with the Nuclear Weapon States to seek their views and supports for the SEANWFZ.
Taking into account the positive outcomes of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April 2010 and the NPT Review Conference in May 2010, the Ministers agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums on issues relating to ASEAN and the implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty.
The Meeting elected Indonesia as the next Chair of the SEANWFZ Commission from January 2011.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will meet for a Working Dinner tonight to give their final touch to preparations for the AMM-43 which shall be formally opened tomorrow./.