Chairman's Statement of the 8th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting

4 AUGUST 2018

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1. The 8th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was convened in Singapore on 4 August 2018. The Meeting was chaired by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.

    

   Review and Future Direction of the EAS

    

2. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the EAS as a Leaders-led forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia, in line with the 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the EAS and based on the established principles, objectives and modalities of the EAS.

    

    

3. The Ministers reaffirmed ASEAN’s central role in the EAS, and ASEAN’s commitment to work in close partnership with all EAS Participating Countries to ensure that the EAS would continue to be an integral component of the ASEAN-led regional architecture. The Ministers reiterated that the EAS would continue to be an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum that will strengthen global norms and uphold universally recognised principles of international law with ASEAN as the driving force, and working in close partnership with other EAS Participating Countries to attain that goal.

    

    

4. The Ministers welcomed the continued efforts to strengthen the EAS work processes. The Ministers expressed support for the important role of the EAS Ambassadors’ Meeting in Jakarta (EAMJ), as set out in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the EAS. The Ministers further expressed appreciation for the EAMJ’s contribution in exchanging information on regional development cooperation initiatives, security policies and initiatives, with optional participation of high-level experts from the capitals. The Ministers commended the EAMJ’s contribution to finalising the outcome documents for the 13th EAS. The Ministers also welcomed the further strengthening of the EAS Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat to facilitate and support EAS coordination and cooperation. The Ministers appreciated the efforts of Singapore, as the EAS Chair, to strengthen the EAS, including to create a more interactive format for the EAS that promotes more candid and substantive exchanges among the EAS Leaders.

    

    

5. The Ministers welcomed the launch of the EAS website to promote awareness of the EAS, serve as a repository of EAS-related information, and raise the profile of the EAS in the public domain. The Ministers also commended the EAMJ and the ASEAN Secretariat for developing the website.

    

   Areas of Cooperation

    

6. The Ministers acknowledged the substantive progress made in the areas of EAS cooperation under the Plan of Action to Implement the Phnom Penh Declaration on the EAS Development Initiative (2015-2017). The Ministers welcomed the adoption of the Manila Plan of Action to Advance the Phnom Penh Declaration on the EAS Development Initiative (2018-2022), with the inclusion of new areas of cooperation such as maritime cooperation. The Ministers were pleased with the positive progress in the implementation of activities under the Manila Plan of Action and looked forward to its timely and effective implementation through the existing regional frameworks and mechanisms, in close consultation with and support from the EAS Participating Countries. The Ministers also took note of a proposal to explore possible funding sources to ensure the implementation of the Manila Plan of Action.

    

    

7. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the global achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Ministers commended the 10th anniversary of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and its contributions to deepening economic integration, narrowing the development gap and achieving sustainable development in ASEAN and East Asia.

    

   Environment and Energy

    

8. The Ministers reiterated the importance of continuing efforts to improve energy accessibility and energy affordability in order to address regional energy security and sustainability challenges. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the EAS Energy Cooperation Task Force (EAS ECTF) Work Plan (2017-2018) under the three EAS ECTF work streams, namely: (i) energy efficiency and conservation, (ii) biofuels for transport and other purposes, and (iii) renewable and alternative power generation, as well as the new EAS Mid-Term Energy Policy Research Roadmap adopted at the 11th EAS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in September 2017 in Manila. The Ministers welcomed that the 23rd EAS Energy Cooperation Task Force Meeting had been successfully completed in Singapore on 25 July 2018 and looked forward to the 12th EAS Energy Ministers’ Meeting to be held on 29 October 2018 in Singapore.

    

    

9. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance environmental cooperation. They also recognised the relevant work on environmental management, including marine pollution and disaster risk reduction and management, such as the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Framework adopted and implemented through the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The Ministers recognised that marine debris pollution is increasingly becoming a global concern and that cooperation in this area among EAS Participating Countries is needed because of the transboundary nature of this issue. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed Indonesia’s and New Zealand’s co-hosting of the EAS Conference on Combating Marine Plastic Debris in Bali, Indonesia in September 2017 and the International Forum on the Prevention and Treatment of Micro-plastics held on 8 July 2018 in Guiyang, China, which highlighted the importance of regional action and innovative solutions to prevent and reduce marine plastic debris in the region. The Ministers noted the importance of addressing the causes of marine plastic debris, which includes the excessive use of plastic bags. The Ministers also noted the completion of the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Model Cities Programme Year-3 (2016-2017), and welcomed the key recommendations of the 9th EAS High-Level Seminar on Sustainable Cities (EAS HLS-SC) from 8 to 10 March 2018 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which included the continued support of the HLS-SC and support for the implementation of the ASEAN SDGs Frontrunners Cities Programme, as well as other ongoing ASEAN sustainable cities initiatives, such as the ASEAN Smart Cities Network.

    

    

10. The Ministers noted the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, for those countries determined to implement it, and looked forward to developing modalities, procedures and guidelines for adoption at the upcoming 24th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) which will take place from 3 to 14 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland.

     

    Education

     

11. The Ministers noted the completion of the implementation of the EAS Education Plan of Action (2011-2015) and the ongoing consultations among the EAS Participating Countries on the possibility of drafting a new EAS Plan of Action on Education. The Ministers acknowledged the outcomes of the 3rd EAS Education Ministers’ Meeting held on 26 May 2016 in Selangor, Malaysia which sought to foster long-term and mutually beneficial education cooperation through the alignment and complementation of the future EAS education cooperation with the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2016-2020. The Ministers also looked forward to the convening of the 5th EAS Senior Officials’ Meeting on Education (EAS SOM-ED) and the 4th EAS Education Ministers’ Meeting to be held from 28 October to 1 November 2018 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to foster dialogue on educational policies among the EAS Participating Countries.

     

    Finance

     

12. The Ministers reiterated the importance of financial stability in supporting economic growth by consistently monitoring risks and vulnerabilities. The Ministers expressed support for the further strengthening of the region’s resilience to external shocks through continued regional financial cooperation and closer collaboration with international financial institutions.

     

    Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases

     

13. The Ministers reiterated the goal of an Asia-Pacific free of malaria by 2030, and welcomed ongoing efforts to strengthen vector-borne disease control, including by implementing the proposed actions in the Asia-Pacific Leaders’ Malaria Elimination Roadmap and noting the ongoing role of the Asia-Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance. The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to implement the 2015 EAS Statement on Enhancing Regional Health Security Relating to Infectious Diseases with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential and supported full implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR). In this regard, the Ministers noted the EAS Public Health Senior Officials and Experts Meeting on Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention held in Moscow from 7 to 8 November 2017, which highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation among EAS Participating Countries in the control of infectious diseases, in particular the fight against epidemics. They also noted the proposal to consider the possibility of organising a meeting of heads of services responsible for combating communicable diseases in 2018.

     

    Natural Disaster Management

     

14. The Ministers reiterated their support for the implementation of One ASEAN, One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region, the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme 2016-2020, as well as strengthening the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) as the ASEAN regional coordinating agency on disaster management and emergency response.

     

     

15. The Ministers welcomed the engagement between the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the national disaster management authorities of non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries, and encouraged further cooperation in disaster management, community resilience, combating climate change and its adverse impact, and joint emergency response among the EAS Participating Countries. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the convening of the EAS International Disaster Management Assistance Workshop organised by Australia and Indonesia in collaboration with the AHA Centre from 8 to 10 May 2018 in Perth, Australia.

     

    ASEAN Connectivity

     

16. The Ministers expressed support for ASEAN’s efforts to effectively implement the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, which aims to achieve a seamlessly and comprehensively connected and integrated ASEAN that will promote competitiveness, inclusiveness, and a greater sense of Community. The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the Lead Implementing Body for the MPAC 2025 Strategic Area on Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI). The Ministers also emphasised the importance of promoting greater synergies among the various connectivity strategies in the region, and looked forward to mutually beneficial cooperation with multilateral development banks and international organisations to advance connectivity in the areas of sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence and people mobility. The Ministers also reaffirmed the importance of promoting sustainable, quality infrastructure in accordance with international standards in East Asia in order to facilitate trade, investment and service competitiveness in the region. The Ministers acknowledged that the mobilisation of means of implementation of infrastructure projects is critical, and welcomed the development of the Rolling Priority Infrastructure Pipeline and Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy with Australia’s support. The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, expressed support for its progress made on developing a framework for smart city development in ASEAN as well as city-specific action plans, and looked forward to the non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries’ close partnership with cities in the network as it evolves over the coming years. The Ministers looked forward to the 9thASEAN Connectivity Symposium in Singapore on 6 September 2018 to be supported by ERIA.

     

    Economic Cooperation and Trade

     

17. The Ministers were encouraged by the continued expansion of trade among EAS Participating Countries and noted the need for greater certainty and supportive polices to sustain this momentum. In this regard, the Ministers noted the annual discussions on global and regional economic developments by the EAS Economic Ministers, to address the common economic challenges facing EAS Participating Countries to further strengthen regional economic integration and contribute to the prosperity in the East Asia region.

     

     

18. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of strengthening economic relations among the EAS Participating Countries and ASEAN’s central role in the regional economic architecture. The Ministers noted the progress made in advancing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, towards concluding a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial RCEP agreement.

     

    Maritime Cooperation

     

19. The Ministers welcomed the inclusion of maritime cooperation as a new area of cooperation under the Manila Plan of Action, which included practical and comprehensive action lines. The Ministers looked forward to the EAS Seminar on Maritime Security and International Law, which will be co-hosted by Australia and Malaysia in 2018, as well as welcomed the convening of the 3rd EAS Conference on Maritime Security and Cooperation from 7 to 8 June 2018 in Bhubaneswar, India. The Ministers also expressed support for strengthening maritime cooperation among EAS Participating Countries in a collective and holistic approach through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), in line with the 2015 EAS Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation. The Ministers took note of a proposal to utilise the role of the EAMF as an effective platform to constructively engage in open and substantive dialogue.

     

    Other Areas

     

20. The Ministers recognised that the EAS, with its dynamic membership which includes advanced and developing countries, is well positioned to facilitate the sharing of experiences and expertise on ways to address both the benefits and challenges of the ongoing digital revolution.

     

     

21. The Ministers stressed the growing importance of security of and in the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), and reaffirmed the need to enhance cooperation to promote a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative, and inter-operable ICT environment, and to minimise the risk of conflict and crisis by increasing capacity building, trust and confidence between states. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in April 2018, reaffirmed their commitment to implement the 2015 EAS Statement on Issues Related to Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies, and to promote the development of a rules-based ICT environment based on international law, certain voluntary, non-binding agreed norms of responsible state behaviour, confidence building measures, and coordinated capacity building programmes.

     

     

22. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen regional cooperation to address traditional and non-traditional security issues. In this regard, the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to implement the related EAS Leaders’ Statements and Declarations.

     

     

23. The Ministers exchanged views on the various Indo-Pacific concepts. The Ministers looked forward to further discussion on the various Indo-Pacific concepts, which should embrace key principles such as ASEAN Centrality, openness, transparency, inclusivity, and rules-based approach, while contributing to mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit.

     

    Regional and International Issues

     

    Korean Peninsula

     

24. The Ministers welcomed the Inter-Korean Summits held on 27 April 2018 and 26 May 2018, as well as the Singapore Summit between the United States (US) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12 June 2018. They also welcomed the Panmunjom Declaration signed between President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK Kim Jong Un, as well as the Joint Statement signed between US President Donald J Trump and Chairman Kim. The Ministers urged all concerned parties to continue working towards the realisation of lasting peace and stability on a denuclearised Korean Peninsula, including through the full and expeditious implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Joint Statement by the US and DPRK leaders. They also urged the DPRK to fulfil its stated commitment to complete denuclearisation and its pledge to refrain from further nuclear and missile tests. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to the full implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and international efforts to bring about the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula which will contribute to peace and stability in the region. Some Ministers emphasised the importance of addressing issues of humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the resolution of the abductions issue.

     

    South China Sea

     

25. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea and recognised the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity. They underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. They also warmly welcomed the continued improving cooperation between ASEAN and China and were encouraged by the progress of the substantive negotiations towards the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) on a mutually-agreed timeline. The Ministers noted the agreement among ASEAN Member States and China on a Single Draft COC Negotiating Text. In this regard, the Ministers emphasised the need to maintain an environment conducive to the COC negotiations. They also welcomed practical measures that could reduce tensions, and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation, such as the successful testing of the ASEAN Member States and China MFA-to-MFA hotline to manage maritime emergencies in the South China Sea, and the operationalisation of the Joint Statement on the Application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea adopted on 7 September 2016. They also stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties.

     

     

26. The Ministers discussed the matters relating to the South China Sea and took note of some concerns on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region. They reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. They also emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the DOC that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

     

    Countering Violent Extremism, Radicalisation and Terrorism

     

27. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to combat the scourge of violent extremism, radicalisation, terrorism, and the threat posed by returning foreign terrorist fighters through the effective implementation of measures and counter-measures at the national, sub-regional, and regional levels under the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT), the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The Ministers likewise reaffirmed the importance and effectiveness of a whole-of-society approach in combating the problem, including through preventive education, the involvement of women, youth and civil society, the promotion of principles such as peace, tolerance, respect for diversity and moderation as a counter-narrative, and preventing the misuse of ICTs, including the internet, for terrorist activities.

     

    Other Matters

     

28. The Ministers noted the following proposals for adoption at the 13th EAS: EAS Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Smart Cities (proposed by Singapore); EAS Leaders’ Statement on Countering the Threat of Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Returnees (proposed by Russia); EAS Leaders’ Statement on Regional Plan of Action on Combatting Marine Plastic Debris (proposed by Indonesia); EAS Leaders’ Statement on Nuclear Security (proposed by the United States); and EAS Leaders’ Statement on Deepening Cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies Security and Digital Economy (proposed by Singapore). The Ministers also noted with appreciation the role of the EAMJ towards finalising these statements.

     

     

29. The Ministers discussed the preparations for the upcoming 13th East Asia Summit to be held on 15 November 2018 in Singapore.

     

     

30. The Ministers looked forward to the convening of the 9th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Thailand in 2019.

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