The Myanmar delegation led by Dr Wah Wah Maung, Eminent Person (EP) of Myanmar for the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision and Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, attended the 19th meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision (17th HLTF-ACV), which was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 10-12 December 2024, accompanied by officials from the ASEAN Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Drafting sessions of the high-level representatives were also held on the sideline of the 19th meeting of HLTF-ACV and concluded the fifth reading with 98 per cent completion of the draft ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Strategic Plan.
The 19th HLTF-ACV meeting was co-chaired by Eminent Persons (EP) of Lao PDR and Malaysia, as the permanent shepherd Member State, and attended by eminent persons, high-level representatives and officials from the ASEAN member states, representatives from Timor-Leste as well as the ASEAN deputy secretary-general for APSC and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
At the meeting, the HLTF-ACV had an Interface meeting with the Chair of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Development of ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan and Chair of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and the respective pillars have updated their progress in developing their respective ASEAN Vision 2045 strategic action plans. The meeting exchanged views on the development of the respective strategic plans, placement of the elements of institutional strengthening-related strategic measures and cross-cutting issues.
In addition, the HLTF-ACV had an interface with the ASEAN Youth Organization Chair and the respective stakeholders have updated their works and contributions to the ASEAN Community Vision and shared the priorities and challenges to be addressed in the future ahead by providing their recommendations. The meeting exchanged views on the emerging challenges and recommendations made by the respective stakeholders on the development of the APSC Strategic Plan in a friendly, cordial and candid manner.
During the 19th HLTF-ACV meeting, Deputy Minister Dr Wah Wah Maung commended the over 95 per cent progress of works in developing respective strategic plans of ASEAN pillars and connectivity of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. The deputy minister emphasized the critical importance of institutional strengthening for the three ASEAN community pillars and ASEAN connectivity. She urged to prioritize discussions on pillar-specific improvements within the framework of institutional strengthening strategic measures. Highlighting the distinct nature and roles of each ASEAN community pillar, she called for tailored strategic measures aligned with their unique mandates and encouraged each pillar to deliberate on these specific actions to strengthen ASEAN’s institutional framework. She further underscored the continued role of the ASEAN political-security community (APSC) in providing general recommendations for efficient and effective implementation of ASEAN institutional strengthening. The deputy minister concluded by calling for the APSC pillar to take the lead in implementing these strategic measures, while other pillars to contribute support and collaborate for the success of ASEAN’s institutional strengthening.
The upcoming 20th HLTF-ACV meeting scheduled in January 2025 will look into further discussion of the strategic plans of the ASEAN community pillars. In addition, the meeting will also focus on the need to address issues such as ensuring harmonization among strategic measures of the relevant community pillars, avoiding duplication of strategic measures, and strengthening linkages and coordination among sectoral bodies. The meeting will also emphasize further deliberation on the timely conclusion of the strategic plans for their adoption at the 46th ASEAN Summit in May 2025 in Malaysia.
MNA
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