[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 27TH ASEAN PLUS THREE SUMMIT

1. The 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit was held on 10 October 2024 in Vientiane. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and attended by ASEAN Member States, the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as Observer. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, the Director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), the 2024 Chair of the East Asia Business Council (EABC), and the Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) were also in attendance.

Review and Future Direction of APT Cooperation

2. We noted with satisfaction the progress in APT cooperation over the past years and discussed its future direction. We reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening and deepening the APT process, which plays a key role and as a main vehicle in regional community-building efforts and in promoting peace, stability, and security in the East Asian region with ASEAN as the driving force. We also recognised the importance of the APT to ASEAN's efforts towards realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV (2021 -2025), and deeper regional integration in East Asia.

3. We noted the importance of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as a guide for ASEAN's engagement in the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, including promoting inclusive economic engagement and cooperation through concrete and practical projects and activities through, among others, the implementation of projects under the four priority areas of the AOIP.

4. We were pleased with the substantial progress made in the implementation of the APT Cooperation Work Plan (2023-2027), particularly in the areas of transnational crime, non-traditional security, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, finance, agriculture, food security, energy security, sustainable minerals development, micro, small and medium enterprises, and connectivity, civil service matters, women empowerment and gender equality, education, environment and climate change, health, labour, sub-regional cooperation, among others. We looked forward to the full and effective and timely implementation of the Cooperation Work Plan to enhance the APT cooperation.

5. We acknowledged the significance of the APT framework in maintaining and enhancing peace, security, stability, and development in ASEAN and East Asia. We underscored the need to promote an enabling environment for peace, stability, and prosperous development for all by ensuring a culture of dialogue and cooperation, instead of rivalry, enhancing mutual trust and confidence, and respect for international law.

6. We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening dialogue and cooperation in combatting transnational crime and enhancing border management, through existing mechanisms under the APT Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC + 3) Consultation. We noted last year's adoption, under this framework, of the first APT Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC + 3) Work Plan on Cooperation to Combat Transnational Crime (2024-2027), which covered three priority areas, namely trafficking in persons (TIP), terrorism and cybercrime; and of the first ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM) Plus Three Work Programme (2023-2024) to enhance practical cooperation on immigration, consular affairs and border management. We also welcomed the extension of the implementation period of the DGICM + 3 Work Programme from 2023-2024 to 2023-2027 to align with the current APT Cooperation Work Plan. In this regard, we looked forward to the full and effective implementation of the Work Plan and Work Programme. We also reaffirmed a strong commitment to combating illicit drugs under the framework of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Drug Matters Plus Three (ASOD + 3) Consultation.

7. We underlined the importance of trade and investment relations between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries. Based on ASEAN's preliminary statistics for 2023, the two-way trade between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries reached a total value of USD 1.1 trillion. Meanwhile, total foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from the Plus Three Countries into ASEAN were valued at USD 42.8 billion.

8. We commended the development of the APT Economic Cooperation Work Programme (ECWP) (2025-2026), and were pleased to note the progress made in the implementation of the ECWP 2023-2024 under various areas of cooperation, among others, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development, private sector engagement and stakeholders' dialogues, trade facilitation, digital economy, and green economy. We reiterated the importance of strengthening economic relations among APT countries with ASEAN playing a central role by keeping the markets open to strengthen the connectivity, resiliency, and sustainability of regional logistics systems and supply chains as well as maintain the flow of essential goods and services.

9. We emphasised the need to strengthen APT collaboration to navigate the challenging global environment through stronger and more impactful cooperation, especially in the areas of sustainable development, renewable energy, digital transformation, supply chain connectivity, and pursuing cooperation in areas of mutual interest. In this regard, we looked forward to the implementation of the ASEAN+3 Start-up Program for Promoting Sustainable Development. We stressed the need to assist people and businesses, especially the MSMEs, as well as start ups, and other vulnerable groups, including through facilitating their access to and capacity to use digital technologies. We reaffirmed our support for the development of the digital economy and future initiatives aimed at preparing MSMEs to embrace and benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

10. We reaffirmed commitment of World Trade Organization (WTO) Members to preserving and strengthening the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, to provide meaningful impetus to respond to current trade challenges, take advantage of available opportunities, and work towards necessary reform of the WTO to improve all its functions, including having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system. We welcomed the accession of Timor-Leste to the WTO, which marks its path to becoming a strategic regional and global partner and a stepping stone to its accession to ASEAN.

11. We welcomed the progress in the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement as well as the adoption of the Procedures for Accession to the RCEP Agreement, and looked forward to the implementation of the RCEP Agreement in a transparent manner, to increase its utilisation by ASEAN private sectors in the region, especially MSMEs and its contribution to stronger and more resilient supply chains. We welcomed the establishment of the RCEP Support Unit (RSU), which will provide institutional support for the implementation of the RCEP Agreement and looked forward to the full operationalisation of the RSU this year.

12. We expressed our appreciation to the East Asia Business Council (EABC) for their support and cooperation as well as valuable inputs in advancing regional economic integration and urged the EABC to continue playing a bigger role in this respect. We encouraged the EABC to promote cooperation for the effective implementation and full utilization of regional trade agreements especially RCEP to deliver tangible benefits to businesses, particularly MSMEs, and the people of the region. We also called for EABC to accelerate digital transformation by sharing expertise and advancing upskilling and reskilling efforts, enabling the APT workforce and MSMEs to fully leverage opportunities in the digital era.

13. We underscored the importance of the ASEAN+3 Finance Process in enhancing regional economic and financial stability. We commended the continued commitment of the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to significantly bolstering the regional resilience of ASEAN+3 through the establishment of the Rapid Financing Facility (RFF) with the incorporation of eligible freely usable currencies as its currencies of choice, as a new facility under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM). We welcomed the outcomes of the 27th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting held on 3 May 2024 on the Regional Financing Arrangement (RFA) Future Direction/CMIM, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI), Disaster Risk Financing (DRF), and ASEAN+3 Future Initiatives, to strengthen the regional financial cooperation.

14. We commended the progress made in the implementation of the APT Cooperation Strategy (APTCS) on Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016- 2025). We called for the enhancement of APT cooperation in ensuring food security, including through the effective implementation of the APT Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) and the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS), to overcome possible food shortages as well as to strengthen the resiliency and sustainability of regional food supply chains and logistics systems. We welcomed the 12th Meeting of APTERR Council held on 24-25 April 2024 in Beijing, China which bolstered regional food security cooperation through the APTERR mechanism. We commended that Plus Three countries contributed to a combined total over of 10,000 MT of APTERR stocks to address the emergency and strengthen food security and other humanitarian purposes in 2022-2023. We underlined the significance of strengthening cooperation to attain resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems by promoting green and circular agricultural practices, harnessing digital technologies, and advancing agricultural decarbonisation.

15. We noted the 21st ASEAN+3 Ministers on Energy Meeting, held on 27 September 2024 in Vientiane, which highlighted the urgent need to enhance regional energy connectivity and resilience amid evolving global challenges. We welcomed the progress of the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Interconnection Project (LTMS-PIP) and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines Power Interconnection Project (BIMP-PIP) towards realising the shared benefits of cross-border power trading to the region, and reaffirmed our support for the expeditious establishment of the ASEAN Power Grid. We looked forward to the launch of the establishment of the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre, at the Singapore International Energy Week 2024, and stressed the importance of coordinated and strategic efforts to ensure energy security, sustainability, and resilience as part of the shift towards a low-carbon economy.

16. We commended the continued efforts of APT to push forward the digital transformation agenda. We acknowledged the importance of focusing on enhancing APT's capacity to facilitate free flows of data across borders, development of digital connectivity, and strengthening of consumer and business trust in the digital economy. We acknowledged the continued support of APT on the ASEAN Digital Integration Framework Action Plan and the ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025, through capacity-building activities on the use of digital technologies and the mid-term report on the APT research project for closing the digital divide in MSMEs.

17. We were pleased to note the strong interest of the Plus Three countries in advancing smart and sustainable city development in the region through the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) and ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) and looked forward to more partnerships supporting these initiatives.

18. We commended the APT's continued commitment to strengthening cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI) for the region. We noted the completion of STI initiatives under APT, which includes the ASEAN+3 Centre for the Gifted in Science; ASEAN+3 Student Camp and ASEAN+3 Teacher Workshop for the Gifted in Science; ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey; and ASEAN+3 Young Scientists Forum. We valued a collective commitment among APT countries to driving excellence in science and reaffirmed the intention to work with all parties.

19. We commended the progress of the implementation of the MPAC 2025, as well as the Plus Three countries' ongoing support for ASEAN's implementation of the MPAC 2025, including on the Enhancement of ASEAN Tourism Digital Platforms, the Diagnostic Tool to Assess MSMEs' Digital Readiness and the ASEAN-ROK Technical and Vocational Education and Training Mobility Programme. We encouraged continued efforts to explore potential collaboration and further develop practical projects, building on previous success to strengthen connectivity cooperation and advance ongoing activities. Noting that ASEAN is currently working on developing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan, which will outline the next phase of the ASEAN Connectivity agenda, we looked forward to future collaboration in this regard.

20. We highlighted Lao PDR's ASEAN Chairmanship theme of "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience" to strengthen ASEAN's resilience, solidarity, and sustainability, positioning the region as a resilient and dynamic community amidst global uncertainties and challenges for the prosperity and well-being of the people and economies. In this regard, we adopted the APT Leaders' Statement on Strengthening the Connectivity of Regional Supply Chains and looked forward to its effective implementation.

21. We committed to enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries in smart and sustainable city development through the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy under MPAC 2025 and the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN). We commended Japan's efforts to foster smart city cooperation through the Japan Association for Smart Cities in ASEAN (JASCA) and Smart City supported by Japan ASEAN Mutual Partnership (SmartJAMP) and convening of the annual ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-level Meetings. We appreciate ROK's support in establishing the ASEAN Smart City Professional Program (ASPP) that helps create a regional community of young leaders advancing smart cities.

22. We commended the efforts of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) and ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) to promote trade, investment, culture, tourism, media, and people-to-people exchanges between and among ASEAN and the Plus Three countries. We were pleased to note that the three Centres had established regular consultation meetings and called for the Centres to enhance linkages among them and to continue facilitating trade and economic cooperation among APT countries through various activities in collaboration with each other or respectively.

23. We emphasised the importance of cultural, sports and tourism exchanges and people-to-people links to heighten awareness and foster intercultural understanding and ASEAN identity in the region. In this regard, we called for strengthened collaboration to encourage the effective implementation of projects proposed under the ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan on Cooperation in Culture and the Arts (2022-2025) and the ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Cooperation Work Plan (2021-2025). We noted the convening of the 23rd Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM) Plus Three on 26 January 2024 in Vientiane, which encouraged the APT National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) to enhance activities on human resource development, sustainable tourism development, marketing, and transforming the tourism sector by using digital technology.

24. We also encouraged greater collaborations to leverage digital transformation for the media and information sector under the newly extended Work Plan on Enhancing APT Cooperation through Information and Media (2018-2025).

25. We acknowledged the efforts of the APT in optimising the mobilisation of essential health resources in responding to public health crises based on the joint commitments from the 9th APT Health Ministers' Meeting in May 2022, which included the priority health areas, among others, on supporting the operationalisation of ongoing initiatives on prevention, preparedness, detection and response to public health emergencies; building a stronger and resilient health system; increased utilisation of existing respective trust funds and technical support for public health cooperation, including promotion of universal health coverage, utilising digital health for healthcare, prevention, and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases; traditional and complementary medicine; healthy and active ageing, promotion of mental health; human resources for health; enhancing equitable access to vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostics; responding to communicable and emerging diseases and food safety, as well as issues related to combating antimicrobial resistance through One Health approach, and disaster health management.

26. We commended the efforts of the APT Health Ministers' Meeting and noted the multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaborative activities to be undertaken in promoting healthy and active ageing as complemented by the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI). We also noted the efforts to strengthen the healthcare and welfare systems in addressing ageing-related challenges under the Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.

27. We also acknowledged the commitment of the APT health sector in strengthening preventive actions in alleviating the negative impacts of mental health on society, especially among adolescents and young children through the strengthening of mental health promotion in school settings in ASEAN Plus Three countries.

28. We noted the commitment of the APT health sectors to continuing efforts on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), including their successor strategies, to further enhance the ASEAN Member States and Plus Three countries' capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats amid an evolving global health architecture. In this regard, we reaffirmed support in the establishment and operationalisation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) as a centre of excellence and regional resource hub for public health emergency preparedness and response in ASEAN which is strongly connected with similar centres with other regions and countries. We welcomed the annual conduct of the ASEAN Plus Three Public Health Emergency Tabletop Exercises which facilitate better coordination and enhance preparedness and response capacity for health emergencies in the region.

29. We welcomed the outcome of the 10th APT Health Ministers' Meeting held on 9 August 2024 in Vientiane, and looked forward to the renewed, deepened or expanded cooperation to further advance health development that are aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan, and the health priorities of ASEAN Health sector and Plus Three countries.

30. We reaffirmed the commitment to promoting and supporting sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development across the ASEAN community, including the protection of and mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities through developing accessible services to health, education, employment, social protection, and digital inclusion, to accelerate ASEAN disability-inclusive development.

31. We underlined the importance of fostering cooperation on social welfare and development. We recognised the crucial role of the social welfare and development sector in strengthening social protection systems, with particular attention given to strengthening strategic cooperation in enhancing the well-being of women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through social-inclusive approach.

32. We reaffirmed ASEAN and the Plus Three countries' strong commitment to promoting social welfare and development cooperation, through the programmatic implementation of key ASEAN declarations and regional frameworks, including the (i) Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection in ASEAN; (ii) Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing: Empowering Older Persons in ASEAN; (iii) ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; (iv) ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework; and (v) Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the Importance of the Family Community Development and Nation-Building; and (vi) Ha Noi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work Towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community, among others.

33. We reaffirmed commitment of the APT to explore and carry out concrete action to strengthen the partnership with ASEAN on social welfare and development to respond to impact of emerging global trends, including digitalisation, demographic shifts, and the impact of climate change, among others, with enhanced engagement of women, children, people with disabilities, older persons, and other vulnerable groups.

34. We reiterated the APT commitment to advancing cooperation in promoting sustainable, inclusive and innovative development, as well as in strengthening cooperation with all stakeholders, including the private sector, to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We called for the development of collaborative projects to protect and conserve the environment and biodiversity, to promote sustainable use of natural resources including sustainable forest management and water resources management, to address the impact of climate change and the issue of marine plastic debris, and to address transboundary haze pollution through the support of the establishment and the operationalization of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACCTHPC) and the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), in collaboration with other relevant ASEAN centres such as the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).

35. We welcomed the continuous contribution of the Plus Three countries to reduce marine debris through the ASEAN Plus Three Marine Plastics Debris Cooperative Action Initiative and support the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021-2025). We welcomed in particular activities of the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) as an information clearinghouse for the marine plastic issue, as well as collective efforts towards the achievement of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).

36. We reaffirmed the commitment to forging closer cooperation in poverty alleviation for sustainable development. In light of the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Villages Network (AVN) during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May 2023 and the notation of the AVN Framework during the 43rd ASEAN Summit, we looked forward to exploring ways to further support the sustainability of the ASEAN Villages Network, through, among others, the development of infrastructure and human resources, capacity building programs, such as the ASEAN Plus Three Village Leaders Exchange Programme, and technical exchange activities, guided by the Framework Action Plan on Rural Development, Poverty Eradication 2016 – 2025 and the ASEAN Master Plan on Rural Development (2022-2026), and the regional mechanism of the Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) Plus Three.

37. We reaffirmed the commitment to promoting and protecting the human rights of vulnerable groups, achieving gender equality, and the empowerment of women. We commended the continued efforts of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of The Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) to forge ahead with the implementation of the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework (AGMSF) 2021-2025 across the three ASEAN Community pillars. In accelerating the implementation of the AGMSF, we acknowledged with appreciation the Policy Recommendations on Integrating Gender Mainstreaming in ASEAN that was noted by the ASEAN Leaders during the 43rd ASEAN Summit. We committed to maintaining sustainable peace in the region through, among others, the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action (RPA) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). We looked forward to strengthening and continuing cooperation for capacity building for empowering women in the context of WPS.

38. We looked forward to the comprehensive end-term reviews of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action the Elimination of Violence Against Women (ASEAN RPA on EVAW) and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children (ASEAN RPA on EVAC), as well as the development of the successor Regional Plans of Actions under the leadership of the ACWC. We reaffirmed that these regional frameworks are crucial to strengthening shared commitments to protecting women and children from all forms of abuse and violence.

39. We recognised the continued commitment of the APT to further enhance cooperation in education, and underscored the importance of education for human resource development as well as social and economic well-being in post-pandemic recovery. We encouraged the enhancement of cooperation in the Campus Asia Plus Program and welcomed the initiatives of the Working Group on Student Mobility and Quality Assurance of Higher Education among APT countries such as the development of APT Joint Guidelines for New Form of Mobility in Higher Education. We also noted other relevant initiatives such as MEXT scholarships, ASIA KAKEHASHI Project+ (Plus), and Sakura Science Exchange Program, ASEAN China-Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) programme, Higher Education for ASEAN Talents (HEAT) Scholarships, the ROK TVET Mobility Programme, among others. We encouraged the APT to deepen digital education cooperation, explore the sharing of digital education resources, and strengthen the digital construction of the "CAMPUS Asia" program, so as to promote the digital transformation of global education.

40. We commend the successful convening of the ASEAN Plus Three Seminar on East Asian Studies at Universities and the ASEAN Plus Three Student Camp, which fostered knowledge sharing and cultural exchange among young scholars and students from the region. The Seminar, held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 9-11 September 2024, aimed to strengthen cooperation in research and development among universities and research agencies, with a particular focus on enhancing East Asian studies in the region. We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening cooperation in research and development among universities and research agencies, with the shared goal of enhancing East Asian studies in the region.

41. We commended the longstanding efforts of the APT Senior Officials' Meeting on Youth and relevant ASEAN entities to provide greater access for youth in APT countries to participate and remain engaged in the ASEAN Community building and people-to-people exchange, through various annual youth exchanges, capacity building, and community immersion programs, such as China-ASEAN Youth Campus and the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP). We looked forward to the convening of the Ninth ASEAN Plus Three Meeting on Youth (9th AMMY+3) via videoconference on 30 November 2024 and are pleased to note the progress implementation of the ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan on Youth.

42. We commended the steady progress of implementation of the APT Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM+3) Work Plan (2021-2025). We also noted the initiatives supported by the APT Cooperation Fund that sought to strengthen the overall capabilities of the ASEAN Civil Services, including the Baseline Study on Governance Systems among APT countries and Study Visit on Public Service Delivery to China held on 25-29 March 2024. We were encouraged by the active participation of the APT countries at the Heads of Civil Service Meeting and Senior Officials Meeting of the 7th ACCSM+3 held on 7 August 2024 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. We looked forward to the active engagement of the APT countries in the development of the ACCSM+3 Work Plan (2026-2030) and encouraged closer APT cooperation in raising the standards of civil service in the ASEAN region in areas of mutual interests including e-governance, human resource management and human resource development, productivity in the public sector, good governance, public sector reform, local administrative capacity building and cooperation, and research and innovation.

43. We commended the strengthening of the APT cooperation in the labour sector through the continued implementation of the first APT Senior Labour Officials' Meeting (SLOM+3) Work Plan (2021-2025) by engaging in practical activities and projects that covered the areas of human resources development, inclusive growth, sustainable development as a response to the ASEAN economic integration, social dialogue, occupational safety and health in the workplace, and social protection. We looked forward to the convening of the 13th APT Labour Ministers Meeting (13th ALMM+3) and 22nd SLOM+3 in October 2024, in Singapore, and welcomed the Plus Three countries' active participation in the meetings. We looked forward to the active engagement of the APT countries in the development of the SLOM+3 Work Plan (2026-2030), and encouraged APT closer cooperation in fields of skills development, employment and social protection.

44. We encouraged the enhancement of cooperation on disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance, particularly to support the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme (2021-2025), the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region, ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Sustainable Resilience, and other relevant ASEAN Declarations. This cooperation aims to contribute towards building disaster resilience in the ASEAN region and realising ASEAN's aspiration to be a global leader in disaster management through promoting the exchange of information, best practices and experiences on disaster management, and strengthening ASEAN's capacity for disaster risk assessment and monitoring, prevention and mitigation, as well as response and recovery. This includes enhancing the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

45. We acknowledged the important contribution of the East Asia Forum (EAF) as a Track 1.5 level platform for government, business, academia, and think tanks to further deepen East Asia cooperation. In this regard, we noted with appreciation the convening of the 21st EAF, which was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China under the theme "Joining Hands to Create New Development Opportunities for Shared Peace and Prosperity in East Asia". The Forum discussed among others, ways to expand cooperation in emerging industries to foster stronger drivers for regional growth and enhance regional resilience in crises.

46. We also recognised the important contributions of the Network of East Asia Think Tanks (NEAT) towards APT cooperation. We welcomed the outcomes of the 39th and 40th NEAT Country Coordinators' Meeting (NEAT-CCM) that were held on 31 March and 5 August 2024, respectively, and the three NEAT working group meetings on various topics held this year.

Regional and International Issues

47. We expressed concern over the recent developments in the Korean Peninsula and stressed the importance of continued peaceful dialogue among all concerned parties in order to realise lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. Some countries expressed grave concern over the recent surge in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) missile testing and launches and the increased tension in the Korean Peninsula, which are a worrisome development that threatens peace and stability in the region. Some countries called on the DPRK to comply fully with all relevant UNSC resolutions and we called for peaceful dialogue and consultation among the concerned parties, and continuing working towards the realisation of lasting peace, and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. We called for the full implementation of all relevant UNSC Resolutions. Some countries noted international efforts to bring about the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner. Diplomatic efforts, including the creation of a conducive environment for peaceful dialogue among all concerned parties should remain a priority. We reiterated our readiness to play a constructive role, including through utilising ASEAN-led platforms such as the ARF in promoting a conducive atmosphere for peaceful dialogue amongst the concerned parties. Some countries also emphasised the importance of addressing issues of humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the immediate resolution of the abductions and detainees issues.

Other matters

48. We looked forward to the convening of the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Malaysia in 2025.