| Hakim Hayat |
FOREIGN Ministers from ASEAN member nations are convening in Singapore for the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Post Ministerial Conferences and Related Meetings until August 4, where they are expected to discuss among others the implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Blueprint 2025, as well as preparations for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related summits scheduled to be held in November.
Representing Brunei Darussalam in the meeting hosted by this year’s ASEAN Chair Country is Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof.
According to a statement from the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers are expected to take stock of progress in regional cooperation and chart the way forward towards implementing the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision for a resilient and innovative ASEAN.
The statement also said they will discuss how to further strengthen ASEAN centrality and unity, review ASEAN’s external relations, and exchange views on regional and international issues.
A joint communiqué endorsed by all 10 ASEAN member states is traditionally released at the conclusion of the AMM, which will highlight the discussions as well as strategic and important decisions made during the meetings.
The AMM will see several other key meetings with ASEAN’s dialogue partners including the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) with China, Japan and South Korea; East Asia Summit (EAS), which groups ASEAN and eight dialogue partners: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia and also the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) with all EAS members, Canada and the European Union (EU), plus Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, North Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The agenda of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will also be in focus during the meeting, as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on August 4 will see the first appearance of North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho in the ASEAN meeting since the thawing of ties between Pyongyang with Seoul and Washington DC this year.
Other matters relating to regional and international issues of common interest such as developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Rakhine state, counter-terrorism and violent extremism, maritime security, as well as other non-traditional security issues are expected to be discussed during the four-day meeting.
The ministers are also scheduled to witness the signing ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia by Argentina and Iran.
The TAC serves as a key code of conduct for inter-state relations in Southeast Asia, with the main aim of promoting peace and security in the region.