[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 17TH EAST ASIA SUMMIT (17TH EAS) ON ADVANCING WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, STRENGTHENING ENERGY COOPERATION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY, AND PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. WE, the participating countries of the East Asia Summit (EAS) under Cambodia's Chairmanship of ASEAN 2022, on the occasion of the 17th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, on 13 November 2022, recognising the need to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing new and emerging issues and challenges of common interest and concern, supporting ongoing efforts towards a comprehensive post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery and ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience of regional development, agreed to generate considerable momentum of EAS cooperation, among others, by focusing our collaboration on advancing women's economic empowerment, strengthening energy cooperation, and promoting volunteerism for sustainable development.

Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment

2. We underscored that women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship are crucial to an inclusive and sustainable recovery from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and the achievement of economic stability, economic prosperity, future growth, and sustainable development in our region. We recognised that development and implementation of COVID-19 economic recovery plans should be responsive to and inclusive of women and girls, including women's leadership and decision-making roles. We emphasized the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms for women's economic empowerment, including through mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion.

3. We noted the critical role micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play in promoting opportunities for women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship; improving women's livelihoods including their transition from the informal to formal sectors; supporting women's participation in the workforce more broadly; and including women in private sector management and women-run and led businesses in supply chains. We advance women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship through inclusive and equitable innovation, trade, business, human capital development, financial inclusion the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies for women carrying out undervalued and unpaid care and domestic work.

4. We encouraged the important role of women and girls in strengthening resilience and developing creative and socially inclusive, equitable and safe solutions, including technological solutions, to challenges that all EAS participating countries face, including climate change. We called to strengthen women's literacy in and access to inclusive ICTs, including through capacity strengthening programmes and provision of services and access to technological devices, that is critical to ensuring their potential skill for job opportunities, safe access to the digital public platform, and equitable participation in the region's transforming digital economy and provide safe, protected and collaborative environments that enhance learning.

5. We highlighted the importance of advancing efforts to close the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), without discrimination, including by promoting women's and girls' participation and skills development in STEM fields, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) literacy, thus contributing to women's economic empowerment.

6. We took note of the inherent value in dismantling all barriers to equal, equitable and quality education and training opportunities. We supported women's economic activity, safety, income and employment opportunities, to make sure that no one is left behind.

7. We promoted inclusive and equitable access to financial capital, technological and entrepreneurial management learning opportunities for women to establish, invest in and grow MSMEs, including stepping up regional cooperation that supports women entrepreneurs to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, facilitating their integration in domestic and international markets and global value chains (GVCs), to ensure their continued operation and contribution to the resilience of local economies, as well as to further empower women to be leaders and decision makers in the recovery process and growth.

8. We also encouraged people-to-people connectivity, networking, sponsorship and mentoring programs that support women's entrepreneurship, including the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) and the Network of Experts on Inclusive Entrepreneurship for ASEAN.

Strengthening Energy Cooperation

9. We noted with serious concern the surge and volatility of energy prices and the disruption of supply chains, due to the adverse impacts of ongoing and other military conflicts, amidst geopolitical challenges, along with the unprecedented impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the global economy, on energy security, and the well-being and livelihoods of our people. In this regard, we underscored the importance of a resilient and sustainable energy system, and the need to further strengthen energy cooperation, which contributes to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting that SDGs are a priority area of cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), by enhancing cooperation on energy security and sustainable development, supporting efforts on long-term energy and climate policy and planning, enhancing regional energy connectivity, promoting energy efficiency and conservation, as well as advancing an inclusive and just transition of the energy system and collaborating to address the challenge of climate change by promoting climate resilient development.

10. We recognised that developments in low-carbon, renewable and emerging energy technologies and increasing diversification in energy sources will bring new opportunities for economic growth and recovery, and therefore, emphasised the need for the East Asia Summit participating countries to enhance energy resilience and explore an aspirational long-term regional target towards lower emission energy systems in accordance with their different national circumstances and economic needs, enhance access to and deployment of both clean and low carbon transition energy technologies, as well as explore options utilising a variety of technologies and fuels to ensure a stable and secure supply of energy for achieving economic growth, as part of the regional transformation to net zero emissions, and for a comprehensive post-COVID-19 recovery in the region.

11. We stressed the importance of strengthening energy cooperation mechanisms and platforms, including the East Asia Summit Energy Ministers' Meeting (EAS EMM), East Asia Summit Energy Cooperation Task Force (EAS ECTF), and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).

12. 12. We supported the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025 to work towards energy transitions, resilience and sustainable development underpinned by the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) Vision including through successful pathfinder projects advancing regional integration and energy resilience. We further encouraged innovation as one of the main drivers of the energy transition process to facilitate research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) of cleaner, resilient, efficient and safe energy technology options.

13. We emphasised the value of education and academia to promote research, development and innovation in sustainable energy technologies through the increase of international triple-helix cooperation amongst government, private sector and academia in facilitating access to upgraded clean technologies, and improved greener infrastructure for supplying affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy system.

14. We sought to promote cooperation among EAS participating countries to mobilise the public and private sectors, international organisations, and other stakeholders to promote investment in clean energy infrastructure, low-carbon technologies, and support smart cities development towards accelerating equitable, inclusive, sustainable growth, and climate action through initiatives such as the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN). We further sought to raise public awareness of and enhance participation in ecological protection, climate action, and energy efficiency and conservation.

Promoting Volunteerism for Sustainable Development

15. We acknowledged that volunteerism can be a powerful and cross-cutting means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also recognised the importance of volunteerism in addressing the impacts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people's lives, livelihood and well-being, particularly in supporting national responses and recovery, and advocating regional partnerships.

16. We stressed the role of volunteerism in reducing the impacts of unemployment and poverty, promoting good health, facilitating the provision of quality education and inducing well-being. We recalled the role of volunteerism as an important resource for resilience in disaster management and humanitarian assistance.

17. We underlined the importance of volunteerism for promoting respect for cultural and religious diversity and its role in strengthening friendly relations, mutual understanding, trust and tolerance among peoples. We agreed to promote the work of volunteers, including UN Volunteers in dealing with the COVID-19 socio-economic consequences, and promote diversity, inclusion, and gender equality within the UN Volunteers framework

18. We expressed support for activities fostering the recognition and promotion of regular and sustained volunteerism. In this regard, we encouraged the sharing of experience, best practices, plans to promote volunteerism and volunteer exchanges as well as the development and implementation of joint volunteer programmes and projects.

19. We sought to promote training courses to develop skills and relevant competencies for volunteers and enhance the role of women and youth in addressing challenges together in the face of both traditional and non-traditional challenges in the region through relevant volunteering programmes and initiatives.

20. We acknowledged the ongoing volunteerism work under the plans of action between ASEAN and its dialogue partners and the role of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in promoting global volunteerism. We also encouraged volunteerism to be integrated into national development strategies.