00:00Southeast Asia's top diplomats came from all over the region to participate in the
00:26annual ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat to discuss issues of regional importance.
00:33The two-day retreat in Langkawi buzzed with speculation about ASEAN's next moves, particularly
00:39regarding the long-standing South China Sea dispute.
00:43Despite slow progress, the consensus remains clear – the path forward hinges on fruitful
00:49negotiations and an effective code of conduct.
00:53The retreat welcomed the progress of the negotiations of the code of conduct in the
00:56South China Sea and highlighted the need to continue the momentum to expedite the code
01:03of conduct in the South China Sea negotiations towards an early conclusion and an effective
01:10and substantive COC in accordance with the UNCLOS 1982.
01:16At the same time, we are undertaking the full consultations to negotiate on the COC.
01:23And I think we have been working, we've been negotiating already extensively.
01:27This year there will be more meetings under the COC framework, so we hope to accelerate
01:35the negotiation.
01:38Yet it was the Myanmar crisis that dominated the agenda.
01:42The air was thick with debates and discussions as the bloc grappled with division on how
01:47to address the escalating situation.
01:50While ASEAN promotes a five-point consensus aiming for immediate cessation of violence
01:55and provision of humanitarian aid, some members question its effectiveness and look for other
02:00avenues for solutions.
02:03It has been raised by several ASEAN members that so far the five-point consensus has not
02:09yielded satisfactory results.
02:14And it might be time to revise the means towards that goal.
02:22We think that it might be fruitful to have a more open dialogue with all parties concerned
02:31in Myanmar.
02:33While it was clear that the Myanmar crisis took centre stage, some felt that other issues
02:38should be higher up on ASEAN's priority list.
02:44The region, situated on the ring of fire and vulnerable to natural disasters, grapples
02:49with various challenges, including frequent typhoons and cyclones, exacerbated by the
02:55effects of climate change.
02:57In all countries, large or small, we are affected by climate change, which is really, now it's
03:07a reality and no longer something in the distant future.
03:10So yes, I think it would be also important for ASEAN to focus on this issue as a group.
03:19As the discussions in Langkawi conclude, the real work begins to ensure that ASEAN remains
03:24a relevant and potent force on the global stage.
03:27Hannah Kham, FMT News.
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