ASEAN Foreign Ministers gather in Laos

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, Vientiane, Laos, February 26-27, 2016: Photo: VGP

This is the first in a series of meetings that Laos will host as the Chair of ASEAN this year.

The regional foreign ministers discussed ways to implement the 2025 ASEAN Vision and the three Blueprints, especially the Political-Security Community Blueprint, the priorities initiated by Laos for 2016, and ways to further enhance external relations and central role of the bloc.

The foreign ministers agreed on the need to identify priority fields and measures in the short, middle and long terms, develop a specific roadmap, and enhance national and regional supervision and coordination mechanisms to ensure the progress and quality of implementing the Vision and the Blueprints.

The ministers agreed to focus on accelerating ASEAN cooperation and connectivity in all the three pillars, consolidate ASEAN solidarity and unity, promote the leading role of ASEAN in maintaining peace and security in the region, beefing up dialogues and cooperation to strengthen trust and understanding among countries.

They also agreed to further enhance ASEAN capacity to timely and effectively cope with emerging challenges.

Regarding external relations, regional countries agreed to continue fostering the relations between ASEAN and its partners in a practical manner, encouraging partners to make constructive contributions to the common issues in the region and support the ASEAN Community building process.

The ministers also touched upon a wide range of regional and international issues, including the East Sea issue.

They showed their deep concerns over the recent complicated happenings in the East Sea, especially reclamation activities which have eroded trust, intensified tensions, threatened peace, security and stability in the region.

The ministers stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, pursuing non-militarization, exercising refrain and settling disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, making real progress in the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working toward the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh voiced strong support for Laos’ initiatives and committed to continuing close coordination with the host and other ASEAN members.

He called on ASEAN members to give priority to maintaining peace and stability in the region in the context of increasingly complicated security environment in the region by accelerating measures on trust building, preventive diplomacy, developing rules and standards in order to prevent potential conflicts, and improving ASEAN’s capacity in handling crises and emergencies.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Deputy PM, FM Minh underlined the importance of upholding ASEAN solidarity and common voice over the complicated developments in the region, especially in the East Sea.

On the sidelines of the retreat, Deputy PM, FM Minh had a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith.