11 August 2022 | UCLG ASPAC, within its role as the Secretariat of the ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF) – an accredited by ASEAN, fulfilled an invitation from the Secretary General of ASEAN for an online briefing regarding the outcomes of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM).
ASEAN Secretary General, Mr. Lim Jock Hoi, shared how under the theme “ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together,” the AMM reinforced ASEAN’s mission of tackling common issues and maintaining the momentum of the organisation’s community-building initiatives with a powerful sense of unity. The meeting also focused on enhancing collaboration with ASEAN stakeholders to ensure peace, security, and prosperity for regional and global actions in the face of ambiguity and swift change in Southeast Asia and beyond considering the global condition (the Ukraine War, Korean Peninsula development, the social-economic impact of COVID-19) by considering the rising of new security partnerships and initiatives such as Australia-the United Kingdom-the United States (AUKUS), Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), and Global Security Initiatives (GSI), as well as the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, stated the Cross-Strait Relations which was issued on August 4, 2022.
On this occasion, Mr. Lim Jock Hoi expressed his optimism about the realisation of security partnerships and initiatives. He mentioned that in the Southeast Asia region, not only are ASEAN’s community-building efforts are on-track, but also ASEAN’s external parties continue to see engagement with ASEAN as productive and mutually beneficial. He also shared that ASEAN has been developing ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision focusing on unity, centrality, and resilience to respond to current and future challenges and create a fluid strategic environment for the region.
UCLG ASPAC, under the framework of the ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF), embraces the spirit and has committed to continuously supporting ASEAN in its efforts to address challenges together. Currently, UCLG ASPAC is preparing for the AMF Consultative Meeting on October 6-7, 2022, taking the theme “Achieving Smart, Resilient, and Sustainable Urbanisation through ASEAN Cooperation in the New Normal.” Conducted in conjunction with the 28th EAROPH World Congress 2022, the upcoming AMF will adopt the focus of ASEAN, bring up challenges faced by the region, as well as take benefits from the event’s main discussion. This event will bridge the dialogue and provide wide opportunities for collaboration among participating cities and local government representatives, including those beyond ASEAN.
