ASEAN Needs ‘Agility’ In Dealing With Issues Confronting Region

MANILA, May 7 (Bernama-PNA) -- The Philippines said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to be agile in responding to internal and external challenges confronting the region, Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro made the statement as she convened the foreign ministers and senior officials representing the regional bloc's 11 member states for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Cebu on Thursday.

“We approach this meeting with the understanding that navigating uncertainty requires both agility in responding to immediate and pressing challenges and steadfast commitment in pursuing our long-term goals under the ASEAN community 2045,” she said.

Lazaro said the AMM will centre on ASEAN response to the West Asia crisis and other existing priorities under the Philippine chairship, spanning from political, economic and people empowerment.

She pointed out that for a region that imports more than 50 per cent of its crude oil, the West Asia situation meant significant increase in fuel and energy cost and eventually higher prices for agricultural inputs, food and basic commodities for Southeast Asians.

Beyond the crisis, the ministers present will discuss Timor Leste’s post-admission integration, the bloc’s engagement with external partners and the commemoration of the 50-year-old ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

Lazaro, as special envoy of the ASEAN chair on Myanmar, will also provide a briefing on the situation in Myanmar and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.

Present at the AMM are all foreign ministers except for Myanmar, which is represented by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Permanent Secretary U Hau Khan Sum.

The gathering is part of a series of minister-level meetings ahead of the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit on Friday.

-- BERNAMA-PNA