BANGKOK, Aug 2 — ASEAN Foreign Ministers have gathered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings to discuss various regional and international issues, including the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) by Myanmar.
In a statement, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said Deputy Prime Minister dan Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai would be participate in the annual meeting.
“The ASEAN foreign ministers will follow-up on the implementation of the 5PC agreed by ASEAN Leaders on 24 April last year and make preparations for the upcoming 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in November this year.
“The foreign ministers will exchange views on important regional and international issues, particularly those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions around the world, and push forward tangible cooperation with dialogue partners in various Ministerial Meetings concerned,” it said.
The statement said the ASEAN foreign ministers would discuss ways to advance ASEAN Community building that is people-centred and address common challenges under the theme “ASEAN A.C.T.(Addressing Challenges Together)” and priorities under Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year, as well as the importance of upholding ASEAN centrality and solidarity amidst the regional and global uncertainties and challenges.
The statement said foreign ministers and representatives from 39 countries and organisations are expected to participate in the annual gathering.
Don will co-chair ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Relations (2021-2024), to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Relations next year.
Don will also be attending ministerial meetings to promote cooperation on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG), to support comprehensive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to support multilateralism and regional cooperation to address regional and global challenges.
This week’s meeting is the first time ASEAN Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from China, United States, Japan, Russia and other key partners meet in-person after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Media reported that Myanmar crisis following a military coup on Feb 1 last year as well as the implementation of the 5PC to be a key focus of the talks.
The 5PC call for immediate cessation of violence, hold dialogues with all key stakeholders, appointment of a special envoy to facilitate mediation and for the delegation to visit and meet with stakeholders in Myanmar, and to allow ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance to people in Myanmar.
