BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: ASEAN foreign ministers reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to upholding and promoting regionalism and multilateralism on Wednesday.

According to a joint communique released by the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers believe that regionalism and multilateralism are important principles and frameworks of cooperation, and that their strength and value lie in their inclusivity, rules-based nature and emphasis on mutual benefit and respect.

“We agreed on the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation to effectively address current as well as emerging global and regional challenges of common concern and areas of mutual interest,” the joint communique said.

“We therefore welcomed the ASEAN Chair’s proposal to prepare an ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Upholding Multilateralism in 2021 for the 38th ASEAN Summit to reaffirm ASEAN’s commitment to upholding and promoting multilateral cooperation, anchored in international law, towards achieving peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond,” the joint communique added.

The ASEAN foreign ministers also said that they are looking forward to the convening of the 24th ASEAN-China Summit to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.

The 54th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting was held here in Brunei via videoconference on Monday.

According to the ASEAN schedule, the 29th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting, 22nd ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, 11th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and 28th ASEAN Regional Forum will also be held here in Brunei via videoconference from Monday to Saturday.–Xinhua

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