At the virtual Press Conference of the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, His Majesty in a titah emphasises that Myanmar remains an integral part of the ASEAN family, and hopes for the return to normalcy in accordance with the will of the people as well as the timely implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. His Majesty extends his thanks and appreciation to ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners for their support throughout the year.
In the titah, the Monarch shares that ASEAN's discussions on advancing ASEAN Community-building and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic under Brunei Darussalam's Chairmanship theme of "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper" were reflected in the Chairman's Statements and outcome documents.
Key outcomes of the Summits outlined initiatives to strengthen the region's preparedness for future challenges. These included the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses to Emergencies and Disasters, ASEAN SHIELD, which aims to create a more coordinated and responsive ASEAN.
ASEAN prioritised helping its people by securing vaccines and protecting their well-being through the ASEAN Comprehensive Framework on Care Economy, as the region continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic. His Majesty highlights that ASEAN Member States, along with partners in ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit, are working together to better understand and care for ASEAN people's mental health in this challenging time.
His Majesty also shares that ASEAN is investing sustainable development for the region by embracing the Circular Economy model and cooperation on the Blue Economy. In addition, ASEAN's external relations have also made progress, with agreements to establish Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Australia and China, and with the welcoming of the United Kingdom as a new Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, the first in over 25 years, whereby Brunei Darussalam will be the ASEAN Country Coordinator.
ASEAN also celebrated the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations, and looked forward to the Special ASEAN-China Summit to celebrate its 30th anniversary in November 2021. His Majesty is pleased for chairing the first annual ASEAN-Australia Summit, as well as the first ASEAN-U.S. Summit for President Joseph Biden Jr. and the first ASEAN-Japan Summit for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Source: Radio Television Brunei