[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 19TH EAST ASIA SUMMIT (EAS)
1. The 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) was held on 11 October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Summit was attended by ASEAN Member States, Australia, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Russian Federation, and the United States of America (U.S.), as well as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as Observer. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also in attendance. The President of the European Council and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as Guests of the Chair, briefed the 19th EAS on enhancing connectivity and economic integration.
Review and Future Direction of the EAS
2. We reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening the EAS as a premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation 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 EAS fundamental documents and based on the established principles, objectives and modalities of the EAS.
3. We reaffirmed that the EAS continues to be an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum that is an integral component of the evolving rules-based ASEAN-centred regional architecture anchored in international law, under the guiding principles of the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration, the 2011 EAS Declaration on the Principles of Mutually Beneficial Relations, and reaffirmed in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). We reaffirmed ASEAN's central role in the EAS and underscored ASEAN's commitment to work in close partnership with all participating countries in the EAS, consistent with the principles of the AOIP. We emphasised the important role of the EAS in strengthening multilateralism and the international order based on international law. We also underscored the need to promote an enabling environment for peace, stability and prosperous development in an inclusive manner, through ensuring a culture of dialogue and cooperation instead of rivalry, enhancing mutual trust and confidence, and respect for international law.
4. We underscored the need to further strengthen the EAS to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness amidst the rapidly evolving regional and global architecture. In this regard, we recognised the continued importance of constructive dialogue on strategic issues among Leaders at the EAS in order to reinforce strategic trust and to address common challenges based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual respect.
5. We recognised that the impacts of rising geopolitical tensions and conflicts, global economic volatilities, social and economic inequalities, and the urgent challenge of climate change require joint efforts and mutual support in the region and beyond.
6. We welcomed the continued efforts to strengthen the EAS work processes, such as through, among others, regular engagement between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the non-ASEAN Ambassadors of EAS Participating Countries in Jakarta. We encouraged their continuation as the Group of the EAS Participating Countries' Ambassadors to ASEAN in Jakarta to facilitate the implementation of the Leaders' decisions, strengthening EAS cooperation, exchange information on regional development cooperation initiatives and security policies and initiatives, and discuss the evolving regional architecture. We also encouraged further strengthening the EAS Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat to facilitate and support EAS coordination and cooperation.
Areas of Cooperation
7. We noted with satisfaction the progress made under the new EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028), particularly under the areas of Climate, Environment, Energy, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Cooperation on Natural Disaster Management, ASEAN Connectivity and Maritime Cooperation. We looked forward to the full and effective implementation of the new EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028) which serves as the principal guide to further strengthen the relevance, coherence, and effectiveness of the EAS as a premier Leaders-led forum for promoting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the region.
8. We expressed support for ASEAN's continuous efforts on the mainstreaming and implementation of the AOIP and the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for the Future-Ready ASEAN and ASEAN-Centered Regional Architecture. We reaffirmed our commitment to implement the 2023 EAS Leaders' Statement on Maintaining and Promoting the Region as an Epicentrum of Growth, the EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028) and other relevant EAS Leaders' Statements.
Peace and Security
9. We reaffirmed the importance of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, showcased through the adoption of key regional frameworks by ASEAN, including the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on WPS, the convening of consultative platforms and the establishment of mechanisms in advancing WPS that involves EAS Participating Countries. We recalled the adoption of the EAS Leaders' Statement on Women, Peace and Security in 2020 and called for the EAS Participating Countries to carry out more activities to implement the Leaders' commitments.
10. We emphasised the growing importance of security in the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and reaffirmed the need to enhance cooperation to promote an open, secure, stable, accessible, peaceful and interoperable ICT environment, including through capacity building measures. In this connection, we encouraged the EAS Participating Countries to further enhance cooperation in this area based on the guidance provided by the 2015 EAS Leaders' Statement on Issues Related to Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies and the 2018 EAS Leaders' Statement on Deepening Cooperation in the Security of Information and Communications Technologies and of the Digital Economy.
11. We acknowledged that discussions on traditional and non-traditional security issues had been increasingly featured in the EAS, and reaffirmed our commitment to implement the relevant EAS Leaders' Statements and Declarations, including the 2020 EAS Leaders' Statement on Women, Peace and Security; the 2019 EAS Leaders' Statement on Cooperation to Combat Transnational Crime; the 2019 EAS Leaders' Statement on Combating the Spread of Illicit Drugs; the 2018 EAS Leaders' Statement on the Safe and Security Use, Storage, and Transport of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Materials; the 2017 EAS Leaders' Statement on Chemical Weapons; and the 2016 EAS Statement on Non-Proliferation.
Sustainable Development
12. We noted several initiatives that are being developed under the ambit of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) relevant to sustainable development, with the involvement of different key stakeholders, including EAS Participating Countries. These initiatives include the High-Level Brainstorming Dialogue (HLBD) on Enhancing Complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the ASEAN Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with National Development Planning Agencies; and the ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Accelerating Actions to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate, Environment and Energy Cooperation
13. We welcomed the virtual convening of the 13th EAS High-Level Seminar on Sustainable Cities (HLS-SC) on 1 March 2023 in conjunction with the Zero Carbon International Forum. The theme of the Seminar was closely linked to the ASEAN SDG's Frontrunners Cities Phase 2 initiative and demonstrated steady progress of actions of ASEAN cities towards achieving sustainable development, particularly on the initiatives related to combatting marine debris and strengthening climate resilience in the region.
14. We recognised the importance of a sustainable recovery that supports both economic growth as well as climate and sustainability goals, which include efforts by EAS Participating Countries to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and pursue the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. We discussed ways and means to address the impact of climate change, including through the adoption of nature based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches, sharing of best practices, and providing resources and technical expertise for regional initiatives, including the operationalisation of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change.
15. We encouraged EAS Participating Countries to strengthen cooperation on addressing air pollution, particularly its impact on climate change, sustainable cities, marine pollution and conservation, and a one-health approach related to environmental health matters. We took note of the need to address transboundary haze pollution and also encouraged EAS Participating Countries to support ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) and the establishment and operationalisation of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACCTHPC) for the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).
16. We took note of the progress made under the EAS Leaders' Statement on Sustainable Recovery, which was adopted at the 16th East Asia Summit in October 2021, particularly the importance of a sustainable recovery that is comprehensive, inclusive and resilient, and the need to promote economic policies and growth including fair trade and investment, that contribute to sustainable development and tackling climate change, as well as to address other economic, social, and environmental challenges.
17. 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) to realise the shared benefits of cross-border power trading to the region. We acknowledged the fruitful outcome of the 18th EAS Energy Ministers' Meeting (EAS EMM) on 27 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, in conjunction with the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and Associated Meetings. The Meeting reaffirmed the need to explore concrete cooperation initiatives to enhance the region's energy interconnectivity, including to decisively accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid with the aim of realising it by 2045, and support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).
Education Cooperation
18. We encouraged and affirmed our commitment to advancing long-term and mutually beneficial education cooperation, particularly in enhancing youth and people to people exchanges through scholarship programmes, life-long skills development and digital literacy. We recognised that the EAS education cooperation has been pursued in line with priority areas under the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021-2025. We commended the implementation of inclusive and quality education programmes and activities by EAS Participating Countries, especially in the areas of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), higher education, and research, people-to-people exchanges including through scholarship programmes, strengthening competency of teachers in information and communications technologies (ICT), and promotion of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and mental health and well-being of students. We supported the priorities of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC) to advance TVET in the region through the implementation of its Work Plan 2021-2030.
19. We called for greater efforts to explore more initiatives for cooperation between ASEAN and EAS Participating Countries in sport, cultural and arts, drawing on the rich cultural diversity and heritage of ASEAN as an engine for economic growth and sustainable development, and for forging closer friendship and understanding between ASEAN and EAS Participating Countries.
Finance
20. In view of the impacts of COVID-19 and changing geopolitical dynamics, we reiterated the need to work together to strengthen the global economic recovery. We also encouraged further strengthening of the region's resilience to external shocks through closer financial cooperation and exchange of views on macro-economic and financial developments among the EAS Participating Countries.
Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases
21. We acknowledged the significance of Strengthening Collective Capacity in Epidemics Prevention and Response on the basis of the relevant EAS Leaders' Statement adopted at the 15th EAS (14 November 2020), under the joint leadership of Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia and China, which recognizes the unprecedented and severe challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to adopt an effective and comprehensive response to promote the health, well being, livelihoods, and safety of our peoples and mitigate the adverse impacts on the socio-economic and socio-cultural development of EAS Participating Countries. We recognised that the EAS Participating Countries are in the process of consideration of the proposal of Russia to establish a ‘Regional Mechanism of Emerging Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control among EAS Participating Countries' to realise the decisions of the EAS Leaders and to further advance cooperation in this area, building on the progress achieved at the meeting of the heads of agencies of the EAS Participating Countries, responsible for the control of infectious diseases on 16-17 October 2019, which was initiated by Thailand and Russia, as well as at the EAS Health Experts Meeting on 14 October 2020 cosponsored by Viet Nam, Indonesia, Russia and China.
22. We recognised the importance of mental health as a critical public health issue which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and called for greater cooperation in mental health. We reaffirmed our commitment to the promotion of mental health as articulated in the EAS Leaders' Statement on Mental Health Cooperation, adopted at the 16th East Asia Summit in October 2021. We looked forward to the successful convening of the 2nd EAS Workshop on Mental Health Cooperation that will be co-hosted by Brunei Darussalam and Australia later this year which will provide opportunities to identify key mental health system challenges and opportunities for development and foster greater regional and cross-sectoral cooperation. We also looked forward to the finalisation of the EAS Joint Action Plan on Mental Health Cooperation that will provide a framework for action that would guide and outline activities and progress of the aims of the EAS Leaders' Statement on Mental Health Cooperation.
Cooperation on Natural Disaster Management
23. We reiterated our commitment to continuously support the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and the current AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025. We reaffirmed our support to enhance the implementation of the "ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN, One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region" to increase the speed, scale, and solidarity of ASEAN's response, and the strengthening of the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) as the primary ASEAN regional coordinating agency on disaster management and emergency response. We also encouraged the EAS Participating Countries to forge stronger collaboration to support ASEAN towards becoming a global leader in disaster management as well as strengthening climate and disaster resilience for sustainable development in accordance with the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Sustainable Resilience.
24. We commended ASEAN's commitment to strengthen resilience in light of the 20th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami and expressed strong support to further strengthen ASEAN's early warning system, preparedness, and response. The EAS Participating Countries looked forward to engaging, as appropriate, in the series of commemorative events by ASEAN. We emphasised the importance of further strengthening engagements between the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs) of non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries, through active participation in ASEAN-led activities and practical joint collaborations, including through participation in the ASEAN Regional Disaster Simulation Exercises (ARDEX). We also encouraged the EAS Participating Countries to continue promoting cooperation in disaster management including through the realisation of the 2014 EAS Statement on Rapid Disaster Response to respond effectively to disasters in the region while respecting ASEAN Centrality.
Cooperation on ASEAN Connectivity
25. We acknowledged the emphasis on ASEAN Connectivity this year under Lao PDR's ASEAN Chairmanship theme of "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience" and looked forward to further enhancing cooperation with non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries in implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and its successor document, the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan, contributing towards an inclusive, sustainable and resilient ASEAN Community Post 2025 Vision. We encouraged the development of more tangible connectivity projects to support regional connectivity and advance the ASEAN Connectivity agenda.
26. We further reaffirmed the importance of promoting greater synergies among the various connectivity initiatives within and beyond the region. We appreciated the support of the non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries for the implementation of the MPAC 2025 and emphasised the need for continued engagement between the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and the non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries through the annual ACCC Consultation with Dialogue Partners and Other External Partners on Connectivity and the annual ASEAN Connectivity Symposium. In this regard, we welcomed the participation of non-ASEAN EAS Participating Countries in the 15th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium held on 19 and 23 August 2024, respectively in Lao PDR.
Economic Cooperation and Trade
27. 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.
28. We reiterated the importance of strengthening economic relations among the EAS Participating Countries with ASEAN playing a central role. In this regard, we reaffirmed our commitment to enhancing economic cooperation among EAS Participating Countries in the areas of mutual interest, particularly in digitalisation, green economy, renewable energy and supply chain resilience and connectivity, among others, to ensure regional resilience against future economic shocks and narrow the development gaps in the region. We underscored the importance of promoting circular economy approaches to unlock future growth in a more sustainable way and support transitions to sustainable growth in the region.
29. We acknowledged the role and contribution of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in the EAS process, through the research and analysis which is provided on issues critical to regional economic integration, including digital transformation, climate change, energy transition, among others. We noted, in particular, the paper presented by ERIA at the 12th EAS Economic Ministers' Meeting (EAS-EMM), held in Vientiane on 21 September 2024, on Navigating the Path to a Net-Zero Economy: Decarbonization and Sustainability Initiatives in East Asia Summit (EAS) Countries.
Poverty Alleviation
30. We commended the work of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE) in advancing cooperation which aims to eradicate poverty such as through, among others, the annual convening of the ASEAN Public-Private-People Forum on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication. The Forum serves as an avenue for dialogue and sharing of information between ASEAN and its key stakeholders, including the EAS Participating Countries, towards closer relations and cooperation on shared ASEAN rural and poverty eradication agenda, such as transforming rural development through the ASEAN Village Network (AVN).
31. We recognised the importance of advancing social protection agenda in the EAS and beyond. We recognised further that for social protection to have greater impact to the lives of the people, it must be adaptive to different risks and vulnerabilities faced by the changes in the economy and labour markets and impacts of climate change, disaster and economic crises across EAS Participating Countries, with comprehensive and meaningful involvement of governments, private sectors, development partners, civil society, and the service providers, as well as community volunteers.
32. We welcomed opportunities for sharing of good practices on strengthening social protection systems, especially those that address the needs of the most vulnerable sectors, in support to the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection and its Regional Action Plan and the ASEAN Guidelines on Disaster Responsive Social Protection.
Food Security
33. We reaffirmed our commitment to implementing the 2013 EAS Declaration on Food Security and stressed the need to further enhance food and nutrition security through the implementation of the new ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security (SPA-FS) 2021-2025. We expressed support to the Development of the ASEAN Action Plan on the implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines on Sustainable Agriculture and the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises which was adopted in 2023 to take practical and concrete measures in strengthening local, regional and global food supply chains and logistics systems to ensure regional and global food security and nutrition.
Maritime Cooperation
34. We supported the strengthening of maritime cooperation among the EAS Participating Countries in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2015 EAS Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation, and the 2020 EAS Leaders' Statement on Marine Sustainability, in a collective and comprehensive approach, at the same time emphasising the need to enhance the EAS's complementarity with other ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), with a view to avoiding duplication of work and increasing their operational effectiveness.
35. We recognised the need to maintain and further strengthen stability in the maritime sphere in our region and underlined the importance of strengthening maritime cooperation and exploring new initiatives towards this end. We took into account the cross-cutting nature of maritime cooperation, and noted the convening of related activities such as the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Workshop on Marine Plastic Debris, co hosted by Indonesia and New Zealand in Bali, 14-15 June 2023 and the EAS Workshop on Developing Coastal Economy held in Bali, 4-5 August 2023. We also welcomed the sixth reiteration of the EAS Conference on Maritime Security and Cooperation hosted by India, co-organised by Indonesia and Australia, on 4-5 July 2024 in Mumbai, India.
Tourism Cooperation
36. As the tourism sector is one of the main contributors to economic growth, employment, social benefits and livelihoods of local communities, we commended the relentless efforts by the sector in implementing timely and innovative measures as guided by the Post-COVID-19 Recovery Plan for ASEAN Tourism and the updated ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025. In this regard, we encouraged all EAS Participating Countries to implement the EAS Leaders' Statement on Economic Growth through Tourism Recovery which was adopted at the 16th EAS on 27 October 2021 under the joint leadership of Thailand, Russia and India, through the existing ASEAN tourism mechanisms with the Plus Ones and the Plus Three countries in line with the Post-COVID-19 Recovery Plan for ASEAN Tourism. We also supported the development of an Action plan to implement the ASEAN Framework on Sustainable Tourism Development in the post COVID-19 Era. We recognised that the EAS Participating Countries are in the process of consideration of the proposal regarding the possibility of holding dialogue on tourism among relevant agencies of the EAS Participating Countries.
Advancement and Empowerment of Women and Youth Participation
37. We expressed support for strengthening cooperation towards advancing equal participation, leadership and empowerment of women and youth in the region, including through the ambit of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC). Numerous regional initiatives to advance gender equality have been finalised and implemented, involving key stakeholders, including the EAS Participating Countries.
38. We emphasised the importance of promoting regional cooperation in articulating and advancing women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship as a key driver toward inclusive and sustainable growth in the region. We further highlighted the indispensable contribution of care work, both paid and unpaid, to sustainable development, social cohesion, gender equality and women's empowerment which is increasingly shaping the cooperation and dialogue between ASEAN and EAS Participating Countries. We also emphasised the importance of youth economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, including through inclusive and equitable innovation, trade, business, human capital development, and financial inclusion.
39. We recognised child online protection as an urgent agenda that affects the region. We commended the initiative of the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in safeguarding the rights of children in the digital space through convening the annual ASEAN ICT Forum with wider participation of the private sector from the IT and Communication industries. We expressed support in further accelerating the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action for the Protection of the Rights of Children from All Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse (ASEAN RPA on COEA) through collaboration on a common agenda, including knowledge exchange and shared advocacy on child protection online.
40. We expressed concern on child labour across the region and expressed support to preventing and eliminating the worst forms of child labour guided by the ASEAN Roadmap on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2025. We looked forward to the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on the Prevention and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits spearheaded by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) and the Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM).
41. We expressed a commitment to advancing gender equality and social inclusion through robust joint efforts in operationalising the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework (AGMSF) and the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the three ASEAN Community pillars ensuring gender, disability, and social inclusion rights are integral in the ongoing and future collaborative initiatives among EAS Participating Countries.
Regional and International Issues
42. 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.
43. We 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. We reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation. We further reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We emphasised the importance of self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea. We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety and committed to maintaining and promoting an environment conducive to the negotiations of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is in accordance with International Law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
44. We discussed the developments in Myanmar and expressed our deep concern over the escalation of conflicts and humanitarian situation. We reaffirmed our support for the ASEAN Leaders' Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which remains the main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar. We also reaffirmed the relevant decisions in the ASEAN Leaders' Review and Decision on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. We denounced the continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities and called for immediate cessation, and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, denounce any escalation, exercise utmost restraint, ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue. We appreciated the ASEAN Chair's efforts and commended the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, for his efforts to continue reaching out to parties concerned in a sustainable manner to help the people of Myanmar to achieve an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution that is Myanmar owned and -led for peace, security and stability in the region. In this regard, we acknowledged the convening of the informal consultation consisting of the current, previous, and incoming Chairs of ASEAN on the implementation of the 5PC during the 57th AMM/PMCs and Related Meetings. We welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders' Review and Decision on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. We reaffirmed our commitment to the continued and sustainable strategies and approaches to help the people of Myanmar find an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution that is Myanmar-Owned and -Led for peace, security and stability in the region.
45. With regard to Ukraine, as for all nations, we continued to reaffirm our respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. We reiterated our call for compliance with the UN Charter and international law. We underlined the importance of reaching a just and lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in all their entirety and an immediate cessation of hostilities and the creation of enabling environment for peaceful resolution. We underlined the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities and the serious engagement in a genuine dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We supported the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in the search for peaceful solution. We also called for the facilitation of rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for those in need in Ukraine, and for the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and persons in vulnerable situations.
46. We expressed grave concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been exacerbated following the 7 October attacks. We condemned all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, which have resulted in the alarming number of casualties, particularly women and children, the restricted access to food, water, and other basic needs, leading to the further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We urged all relevant parties to accept the ceasefire proposal as outlined in paragraph 2 of UN Security Council Resolution 2735. We called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, especially 23 ASEAN nationals, women, children, the sick and the elderly. We underscored the importance of release from any arbitrary detention. We commended the efforts of various ASEAN Member States in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and urged all ASEAN Member States and our external partners to continue providing and facilitating such assistance for Gaza. We supported work of United Nations agencies on the ground and the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza to discharge her task effectively and efficiently, and to begin the work on post-conflict reconstruction. We called for rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need, including through increased capacity at border crossings, including by sea. We called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and to abide by international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We urged all parties concerned to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realising the two State solution in accordance with international law and the relevant UNSC and UNGA resolutions, including UNGA resolution A/RES/ES-10/23 on the Admission of New Members to the UN dated 10 May 2024 which we all voted in favour. We took note, and some of us underlined the importance of, the order on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January 2024. We acknowledged the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ on 19 July 2024, which is of the opinion, among others, that the United Nations, and especially the General Assembly, which requested this opinion, and the Security Council, should consider the precise modalities and further action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We expressed great concern over the escalation of tension in the Middle East and called on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, avoid acts that may aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Other matters
47. We look forward to the convening of the 20th East Asia Summit in Malaysia in 2025.