Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan participated in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (FMM) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 17 February 2022. The Retreat was chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn, in Cambodia’s capacity as 2022 ASEAN Chair, and convened in a hybrid modality.
The Retreat was the first Foreign Ministers’ meeting convened by Cambodia under its 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship theme “A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together”. At the Retreat, Cambodian DPM and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn briefed the Ministers on Cambodia’s priorities and deliverables for its Chairmanship. The Ministers had in-depth discussions on ASEAN’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, ASEAN’s Community-building efforts, ASEAN’s external relations and regional economic integration. Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed Singapore’s support for Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, and commitment to work with Cambodia in areas of mutual interest, including in strengthening ASEAN’s competitiveness and regional integration through implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and expediting vaccine rollout across the region and in sustainable development, to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Minister Balakrishnan also encouraged ASEAN Member States to explore cooperation, particularly on smart cities, the digital economy, cybersecurity and health.
The Ministers endorsed the appointment of DPM Sokhonn as the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar. They had a frank exchange on the situation in Myanmar and expressed concern with reports of continued violence, deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. Minister Balakrishnan emphasised the need for ASEAN and Myanmar to make expeditious and substantive progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, including by facilitating the Special Envoy’s visit to Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned. The Ministers agreed that until there was significant progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus, ASEAN should maintain its decision reached at the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits of inviting a non-political representative from Myanmar to ASEAN meetings. Minister Balakrishnan underscored that the Myanmar issue cannot disrupt ASEAN’s priorities. He reiterated Singapore’s commitment to working with Cambodia and other ASEAN Member States on the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and relevant ASEAN decisions.
Minister Balakrishnan returns to Singapore today.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
17 FEBRUARY 2022
Photo Caption: Group Photo of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Phnom Penh on 17 February 2022
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Phnom Penh on 17 February 2022
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Photo Caption: Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Phnom Penh on 17 February 2022
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat Welcome Dinner hosted by Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in Phnom Penh on 16 February 2022
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat Welcome Dinner hosted by Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in Phnom Penh on 16 February 2022
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia
