High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Vision 2045 Commences Negotiations on Political-Security Pillar; PH Calls for Close Cross-Pillar Coordination and Stakeholder Consultation
VIENTIANE 04 March 2024 – The Philippines, together with other ASEAN Member States, convened the 13th Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) on 27-29 February 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, to discuss the development of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and commence the drafting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Pillar (APSC) Strategic Plan 2045.
The APSC Strategic Plan will serve as the roadmap to achieve the political-security goals set forth in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
The Philippine Delegation, led by Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Philippine Eminent Person to the HLTF-ACV, emphasized the need for cross-pillar coordination and stakeholder consultation, particularly the women and youth sectors, in the development of the Strategic Plans for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 to fully capture the aspirations of ASEAN for the next 20 years across all ASEAN Community Pillars. She also suggested strategies to achieve this, including mainstreaming such issues as climate change, women and youth empowerment, institutional strengthening, and others, in all the pillars.
“Given that the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration has initiated their meetings on crafting the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Pillar Strategic Plan, and that the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) is set to start crafting the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar Strategic Plan, our next HLTF-ACV meeting would be an opportune time to consult each other on issues that straddle across pillars,” Ambassador Buensuceso said.
Ambassador Luis T. Cruz, Philippine High-Level Representative to the HLTF, led the negotiations for the APSC Strategic Plan. Prior to the Meeting, extensive stakeholder consultations were conducted, which began with a workshop involving all Philippine agencies at the 35th AMTB Meeting held at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 12 January 2024, to ensure that the Philippine positions are in line with the country’s core national interests and priorities in ASEAN.
Negotiations for the APSC Strategic Plan are set to continue, with the view to conclude the document in time for its adoption in 2025. END
