Press Release: ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 28 Sep 2018

The ASEAN-United Nations (UN) Ministerial Meeting was held at the UN Headquarters in New York today. ASEAN and the UN reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening their Comprehensive Partnership towards the fulfilment of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The Meeting was chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore and 2018 Chair of ASEAN, H.E. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and was attended by UN Secretary-General, H.E. António Guterres, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Lim Jock Hoi, and senior officials of ASEAN and the UN.

The Meeting took note of the Joint Report by the ASEAN and UN Secretariats on the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership for the period from September 2017 to August 2018, and welcomed the significant progress made across a broad range of activities under the first five-year Plan of Action (2016-2020) which was adopted in September 2016. The Meeting welcomed efforts by ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and the UN in developing concrete and specific action lines, and encouraged ASEAN and the UN to continue to facilitate the effective implementation of the Plan of Action following the institutionalisation of the ASEAN-UN Secretariat-to-Secretariat mechanism in 2017.

The Meeting noted the importance of ASEAN-UN cooperation, particularly in cross-sectoral areas, and reaffirmed its commitment to step up cooperation in areas contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in a complementary manner, in areas such as minimising adverse impacts of climate change, alleviating poverty, tackling inequalities, narrowing the development gap, promoting equitable development and women’s empowerment, energy and infrastructure connectivity and technical solutions for energy efficiency, promoting and greening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture, education, health, food and nutrition,  enhancing social security and promoting decent work for all. In addition, Meeting confirmed the importance of ASEAN-UN technical cooperation to localise the SDGs at the subnational and local level.

The Meeting recognised the importance of further enhancing cooperation in preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention, including in support of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR). The UN appreciated the contribution of ASEAN Member States in support of UN peace operations, and also welcomed the endorsement of the Action for Peacekeeping Agenda by all ASEAN Member States. The Meeting agreed on the importance of comprehensively combatting transnational organised crime. The Meeting also noted the importance of collaboration between relevant ASEAN Centres including the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) and the ASEAN Research and Training Center for Space Technology and Applications (ARTSA) and relevant UN technical agencies. The Meeting noted the importance of innovation and technology to improve the lives of our peoples and welcomed the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) initiative. The Meeting noted the significance of the implementation of the IAI Work Plan III and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. The Meeting also welcomed efforts to improve the coordination between the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the UN to enhance disaster risk reduction and management.

The Meeting acknowledged the continued importance of multilateralism and regionalism in meeting global challenges. The UN reaffirmed its continued support for ASEAN Community building and ASEAN Centrality amidst the evolving regional architecture.  The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern in areas such as regional peace and security, counterterrorism and the prevention of violent extremism, sustainable development, as well as disaster management, among others. In addition, the Meeting reaffirmed the importance of adherence to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Meeting also looked forward to the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering to be held on 11 October 2018 in Bali, Indonesia.

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