Ministerial Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at the Ministerial Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Secretary-General, Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me to address you today. In particular, I want to thank His Excellency, Alan Peter S. Cayetano, for convening us here. I congratulate the Philippines for the success of the 30^th ASEAN Summit in Manila.

Last July, the General Assembly adopted a resolution to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN is made up of diverse members – and diverse people. But half a century of intra-ASEAN harmony has shown the strength in such diversity. The international community has learnt much from the “ASEAN Way” and the “Spirit of ASEAN”

Honorable Ministers,

I want to talk today about ongoing cooperation between the UN and the ASEAN. And I want to highlight opportunities to strengthen it.

ASEAN-UN relations started with economic cooperation in the early 1970s. This trend has not only continued, but it has deepened and expanded. It now spans all three pillars of the UN’s work.

We have a strong framework for this cooperation. This is seen mainly through the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the UN. In 2016 we began the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration. Early progress has been seen. We have worked to enhance complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the 2030 Agenda. And I am confident we will see more before the Plan concludes in under four years’ time.

There have been other exciting examples of UN-ASEAN cooperation. One of them even happened right before this meeting, with the launch of the ‘My World Survey’ by ASEAN and UNDP.

ASEAN’s role in the international community goes beyond activities in New York. Many ASEAN countries have deployed blue helmets and other personnel to UN peacekeeping operations overseas. Additionally, there has been close cooperation between UN country teams, regional offices or ESCAP, and ASEAN members.

Honorable Ministers,

I would like to outline some areas which are high on ASEAN’s agenda, and are also main priorities for my Presidency.

First, migration. The negotiation of the first Global Compact on Migration will be a big test for the UN. Valuable work has been carried out through the “ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers”. I also commend ASEAN for seeking broader regional solutions to migration challenges with other partners. I hope to draw from your experiences as we work towards our September goal.

Second, sustaining peace. Conflict prevention and mediation must be at the core of the UN’s work. And we need to work harder to address root causes of conflict. Under my Presidency, a high-level event on Sustaining Peace will be convened in April 2018. I will be counting on ASEAN to commit to preventive diplomacy, and to contribute lessons learned and best practices.

I also look forward to supporting the newly-established UN Office of Counter-terrorism, which will contribute to the UN’s broader efforts to promote conflict prevention, sustaining peace and development

Third, maintaining momentum around the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. 5 members of ASEAN presented their Voluntary National Reviews at the High-Level Political Forum. 2 more members have expressed willingness to do so. This shows your commitment to implementing the promises we have made.

Mobilizing young actors for Sustainable Development is also a priority for me. People between 15 and 29 make up more than a quarter of the ASEAN population. So, I’m sure I can learn a lot from your experiences.

And, finally, UN reform. This will be a major item for the 72^nd Session. ASEAN members’ views will help to make the United Nations stronger and fit for purpose.

ASEAN leaders and ministers stood before the General Assembly this week. They outlined their visions, which centered on people. And they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism.

I stand ready to cooperate and work with ASEAN, as it continues to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Let us ensure that the ASEAN Way, and ASEAN Spirit, act as inspiration for our work over the next session.

Thank you.