PH SOM leader attends preparatory meetings for the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits

Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Philippine ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader, expresses views on various pandemic recovery initiatives and on regional and international issues.

PASAY CITY 09 OCTOBER 2020 – Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Philippine ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader, led the Philippine delegation to a series of meetings held from 7 to 8 October 2020 via video conference to prepare for next month’s 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Ambassador Buensuceso said that senior officials from all ASEAN Member States discussed preparations for next month’s Leaders’ meetings, including those related to ASEAN community building efforts, COVID-19 recovery initiatives, regional and international issues, and Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership application during the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) and the meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Timor-Leste.

“The Philippines congratulated Viet Nam for pushing ASEAN deliverables this year despite the challenges brought by COVID-19. We also supported key ASEAN efforts, such as the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN response fund and an ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies (RRMS) for Public Health Emergencies,” Ambassador Buensuceso said.

The Ambassador added that “looking forward, we discussed the development of a post-ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and various initiatives with ASEAN’s dialogue partners.”

At the SOM, pending applications to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) were also discussed.

On ASEAN’s COVID-19 pandemic response, the ASEAN Secretariat briefed the meeting on the progress of initiatives by the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE), particularly on the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund to facilitate the channeling of funds, including those from external partners.
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At the JCM, which was attended by ASEAN SOM Leaders and representatives from the ASEAN Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM), Senior Officials' Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (SOCA) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), the meeting discussed ASEAN’s 2020 priorities in Community-building efforts, the strengthening of ASEAN identity and the streamlining of ASEAN-led mechanisms.

On Timor-Leste’s application to become a member of ASEAN, the meeting discussed progress reports and ongoing assessment programs to determine Timor-Leste’s readiness to join ASEAN.

ASEAN Member States also agreed on Timor-Leste’s continued participation in various capacity building activities, including attending selected ASEAN meetings.

Ambassador Buensuceso emphasized that the Philippines supports capacity building initiatives for Timor-Leste and proposed training programs for Timor-Leste diplomats and other government officials on ASEAN diplomacy, conference management and English language. END