Vietnam proposes ASEAN build roadmap to assist Timor Leste joining bloc

Under the chair of Indonesia, the ASEAN Chair 2023, these meetings are aimed at preparing for the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Foreign Ministers' Meetings which are scheduled take place in May in Indonesia.

At the SOM, ASEAN senior officials actively discussed and agreed upon the direction of implementing the bloc’s priority contents in the year ahead, including promoting growth and recovery; improving the institutional capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN; responding to non-traditional security challenges, especially food security, energy security, cyber security, transnational crime, health resilience, and financial-economic stability.

In line with this, countries supported Indonesia's proposal to speed up the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with major events set to be held this year, such as enhancing the role of young people in digital development, promoting business and investment in the bloc, bolstering ties in connectivity and infrastructure development, and developing the creative economy.

Regarding ASEAN's external relations, member states reviewed and updated the situation and exchanged measures in which to strengthen substantive and mutually beneficial linkages between members and its dialogue partners. This is being done on the basis of enhancing the role of ASEAN and its dialogue partners; centrality; as well as the value of ASEAN-led mechanisms, especially promoting a "culture" of consultation and dialogue whilst shaping an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture.

The event also saw participants discuss and agree on the approach to new co-operation proposals within ASEAN in relation to a number of regional partners and organisations.

Concerning international and regional issues, the bloc underlined the need to maintain solidarity, unity, and promote its own role and voice of responsibility, especially amid both the region and the world continuing to witness rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes.

In this spirit countries consented to continue promoting ASEAN's role in terms of assisting Myanmar in finding a feasible and sustainable solution to the current crisis by accelerating the implementation of the five-point consensus and upholding ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea issue. Indeed, the bloc is determined to develop the East Sea into a sea of peace, co-operation, and development.

The same day saw the 15th ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG) on Timor Lestes's ASEAN Membership Application take place with the participation of senior officials from the three pillars of the ASEAN Community.

The countries agreed to continue to support Timor Leste in capacity building whilst gradually meeting ASEAN's membership criteria, especially through the development of a roadmap with specific criteria. This is along with encouraging Timor Leste to actively participate in non-policy schemes and activities aimed at supporting ASEAN's existing capacity building.

Speaking at the conferences, Ambassador Vu Ho affirmed Vietnamese support and willingness to co-operate to fulfill the priority co-operation contents of the ASEAN Chair, Indonesia, as well as ASEAN in general in the year ahead. He suggested that the bloc maintain an objective, balanced approach, and strategic autonomy to harmoniously handle relations with partners, as well as complex international and regional issues.

ASEAN therefore needs to have the potential to affect the co-operation process and common development of the bloc, as well as regional peace, security, and stability, he went on to say.

The Ambassador also suggested that ASEAN build a realistic and appropriate roadmap to assist Timor Leste in preparing thoroughly for its admission to ASEAN, as well as affirmed that Vietnam is ready to co-ordinate with others to help them improve their capacity to meet the obligations of an ASEAN member.

With regard to the East Sea, the Vietnamese diplomat reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance, especially emphasising the importance of complying with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). He also expressed Vietnam's support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as efforts to fast-track negotiations to build an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and UNCLOS 1982.

In addition, countries also need to develop a new approach which is suitable to the current situation in the COC drafting process, he added.

 On March 7 and 8, ASEAN senior officials will attend meetings with partners, including the ASEAN+3 SOM, the East Asia Summit SOM, the 35th ASEAN - US Dialogue, and the 25th ASEAN - India SOM.