VIENTIANE: (Bernama) Asean leaders are pleased with the progress in implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Full Membership in the grouping.
Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone (pic), who presides over the 44th Asean Summits (plenary session) and the 45th Summit (retreat session), said leaders of the member bloc are looking forward to the youngest nation in Southeast Asia's full membership in the Asean family in the near future.
Held at the National Convention Centre (NCC) in the capital city of Laos, the meeting was attended by all Asean leaders, a non-political representative of Myanmar, the Secretary General of Asean, and the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, under the theme "Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
For the record, as of now, Timor-Leste was granted official observer status and received in-principle approval to become a member of the Asean during the 40th and 41st Asean Summits in Cambodia in 2022.
"The meeting also discussed Asean’s relations with external partners and its future direction, with the aim of enhancing relations and intensifying cooperation in accordance with Asean Way, while upholding Asean Centrality in the evolving regional architecture, thereby contributing to the Asean Community-building process as well as the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and development in the region and the world," said Siphandone in a statement released after the session ended.
He said the 44th Asean Summit reviewed the achievements made thus far in the strengthening of the Asean Community-building and charted out future directions for Asean.
The meeting commended the progress in implementing the Asean Vision 2025 and the successful implementation of nine priorities of Lao's Asean Chairmanship 2024.
The priorities focus on enhancing regional integration and connectivity in the economy; forging an inclusive and sustainable future; transforming for the digital age; developing strategic plans to implement the Asean Vision 2045 with the aim of building a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred Asean Community; enhancing climate and environmental resilience; promoting culture and arts; advancing the role of women and children; and strengthening health resilience.
Siphandone stated that the implementation of these priority areas was to ensure the continuity of strengthening of the Asean Community, making it more integrated, connected, and resilient.
This will enable Asean to respond to various pressing challenges and seize opportunities to bring about benefits to Asean peoples amidst complex and rapid geo-political and geo-economic changes.
He noted that during the 44th Asean Summit, the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as a Guest of the Chair, presented to the leaders on the current and forecast of future socio-economic growth in the region and the world, including AIIB’s cooperation with Asean Member States.
"The presentation provided useful information as food for thoughts for Asean leaders’ consideration in charting out future directions of Asean Community building, as well as in determining their respective national socio-economic development policies," he added.
Regarding the 45th Asean Summit (retreat session), Siphandone said the leaders engaged in frank discussions on regional and international issues of common interest, particularly the challenging issues facing the region, such as ongoing conflicts in various regions, economic and financial difficulties, climate change, natural disasters, transnational crimes, and other pressing issues.
Additionally, he said, the meeting discussed the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of the Asean Leaders on Myanmar, while also commending Laos, as the Asean Chair, for its role in continuing to uphold Asean’s commitment to implementing the Five-Point Consensus.
"In this regard, the Asean Leaders’ Review and Decisions on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, have been adopted," he added.
During the 44th and 45th Asean Summits, the Asean Leaders adopted 56 documents across the three Asean Community pillars, which will serve as a fundamental foundation for further enhancing Asean’s connectivity and resilience in the future.
Malaysia will officially take over the Asean Chairmanship from Laos on October 11.
Malaysia has held the Asean Chairmanship four times, in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Founded on Aug 8, 1967, Asean currently comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. - Bernama
