19th Meeting of High-Level Task Force: ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision

19th Meeting of High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision was held in Vientiane of Lao PDR from 10 to 12 December.

Myanmar Delegation led by Dr. WahWahMaung, Emi­nent Person of Myanmar for the Task Force and Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations attended the meeting, accompanied by concerned officials.

Drafting sessions of the High-Level Representatives were also held on the sideline of the meeting and concluded the fifth reading with 98 percentage of completion of the draft ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Strategic Plan.

At the Meeting, the Task Force had an Interface meeting with the Chair of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration, Co-Chairs ofthe Ad Hoc Working Group on Development of ASCC Post-2025 Strategic Plan and Chair of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC).

The respective pillars have updated their progress in developing their respective ASEAN Vision 2045 strategic action plans. The meeting exchanged views on the development of the respective strategic plans, placement of the elements of Institutional Strengthening-related Strategic Measures and cross-cutting issues. In addition, the Task Force had an interface with Chair of ASEAN Youth Organisation,and the respective stakeholders have updated their works and contributions to the ASEAN Community Vision and shared the priorities and challenges to be addressed in the future ahead by providing their recommendations.

The meeting exchanged views on the emerging challenges and recommendations made by the respective stakeholders on the development of the APSC Strategic Plan in friendly, cordial and candid manner. During the meeting, the Deputy Minister commended the over 95% progress of works in developing respective Strategic Plans of ASEAN Pillars and Connectivity of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. She emphasized the critical importance of Institutional Strengthening for the three ASEAN Community Pillars and ASEAN Connectivity.

She urged to prioritize discussions on pillar-specific improvements within the framework of Institutional Strengthening Strategic Measures. Highlighting the distinct nature and roles of each ASEAN Community Pillar, the Deputy Minister called for tailored strategic measures aligned with their unique mandates and encouraged each pillar to deliberate on these specific actions to strengthen ASEAN's institutional framework.

She further underscored the continued role of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) in providing general recommendations for efficient and effective implementation of ASEAN Instituional Strengthening. Deputy Minister concluded by calling for the APSC Pillar to take the lead in implementing these stretegic measures, while other pillars to contribute support and collaborate for the success of ASEAN’s Institutional Strengthening.

The upcoming 20th Task Force meeting scheduled in January 2025 will look into further discussion of the Strategic Plans of the ASEAN Community Pillars. In addition, the meeting will also focus on the need to address issues such as ensuring harmonization among strategic measures of the relevant comminity pillars, avoiding duplication of strategic measures, and strengthening linkages and coordination among sectoral bodies.

The meeting will also emphasize the further deliberation on the timely conclusion of the Strategic Plans for their adoption at the 46th ASEAN Summit in May 2025 in Malaysia.