Kuala lumpur: ASEAN leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future' vision, underscoring its strategic importance as a blueprint towards realising a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN Community.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a joint communique issued on Friday following the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting here on Wednesday (July 9) highlighted the ministers' anticipation for the full and effective implementation of the vision. This vision is seen as a cornerstone in advancing ASEAN Community-building efforts.
The statement emphasized ASEAN's commitment to maintaining an ASEAN-centred, open, inclusive, transparent, and rules-based regional architecture. This architecture aims to uphold international law and strengthen mutually beneficial engagement and cooperation with external partners, focusing on the four priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The communique also mentioned the expected outcomes of the End-of-Term Reviews of the APSC Blueprint 2025, AEC Blueprint 2025, ASCC Blueprint 2025, and the MPAC 2025. These reviews aim to integrate lessons learned into the future direction of the ASEAN Community.
In efforts to maintain peace and regional stability, the bloc reaffirmed its shared commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes. This includes full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to threats or the use of force, in accordance with international law, such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The statement reiterated the importance of strengthening ASEAN's institutional capacity and coordination among its various bodies. It recalled both the ASEAN Leaders' Statement and accompanying recommendations on enhancing ASEAN's capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The communique encouraged greater coordination among relevant ASEAN Organs and Sectoral Bodies to ensure the effective implementation of strategic measures on institutional strengthening in the APSC Strategic Plan of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Efforts by the ASEAN Organs and Sectoral Bodies were recognized, and initiatives supporting sustainability and long-term regional progress were welcomed. The ongoing work to develop and align respective Work Plans to support the realisation of the ASEAN 2045 vision was also acknowledged.
Additionally, the bloc welcomed the development of the Complementarities Initiative 2.0, which builds on the 2017 Complementarities Initiative. This renewed initiative focuses on addressing emerging sustainability challenges in line with the 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future'.
The importance of enhancing synergies between the 'ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future' and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN 2030 Agenda) was reaffirmed. Stronger and more coordinated collaboration to accelerate progress toward these goals was emphasized, including through the work of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD). The full and effective implementation of initiatives like the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations was also underscored.