ASEAN Coordinating Council Lauds Philippines for Its Chairmanship of ASEAN

12 November 2017 MANILA - ASEAN Foreign Ministers lauded the Philippines for its chairmanship of the Association throughout the year during the 20th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting at the Marriott Hotel Manila.

At the 20th ACC meeting, Ministers congratulated the Philippines for its stewardship of ASEAN for 2017 that enabled the Association to move forward various initiatives and action points in line with the Philippines’ thematic priorities and the pursuit of realizing ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who chaired the meeting, thanked the Foreign Ministers for their support and cooperation, which, the Secretary said, was invaluable in enhancing the work of ASEAN.

The ACC discussed the final preparations for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits that will be held on 13-14 November 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Ministers were briefed by ASEAN Secretary Le Luong Minh on the progress in the implementation of the blueprints of each community pillar – Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community.

The Ministers considered the list of outcome documents that will be for the adoption, notation and issuance of Leaders. Apart from the regular reports and Chairman’s Statements that are to be noted and issued, outcome documents on various important issues that relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and ASEAN-led mechanisms have considered, pursued and agreed upon will be adopted by Leaders.

Issues include those concerning health, women and youth, anti-terrorism, countering radicalization and violent extremism, anti-trafficking, poverty alleviation, food security, coastal and marine environment, and the pursuit of innovation for ASEAN economies, among others. There are a total of 57 outcome documents for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

The Ministers also considered the changes in the management of the ASEAN Secretariat given that the terms of the ASEAN Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, and the Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community will end soon. ASEAN Leaders are expected to make the formal announcement on the appointment of the new Secretary-General of ASEAN when they meet for the 31st ASEAN Summit on 13 November.

The ACC meets twice a year, each prior to the start of the ASEAN Summit. END