S/PV.8711 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite His Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to participate in today’s meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2020/30, which contains the text of a letter dated 9 January 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, to whom I now give the floor.

I thank Viet Nam, as President of the Security Council and Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2020, for organizing this briefing. At this time of increasingly complex challenges for global peace and security, cooperative and inclusive multilateral efforts, including strong partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, are essential. Since its formalization in 2011, the comprehensive partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations has become an important component of the United Nations broad engagement with regional organizations. Today we are focusing on how ASEAN and the United Nations can strengthen their cooperation in addressing threats to peace and security. First, I would like to recognize the long-standing contributions of ASEAN member States to United Nations peacekeeping. Approximately 5,000 military and police personnel from seven ASEAN member States are currently serving in missions around the world. The increasing number of women peacekeepers deployed by ASEAN member States is a testament to ASEAN’s recognition of the critical roles that women peacekeepers can and must play in implementing mission mandates. All 10 ASEAN member States have endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping initiative, and we continue to work closely to implement shared commitments and ensure that peacekeeping remains fit for purpose. We are also grateful that six ASEAN countries have made pledges to the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. I would like to thank Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia for hosting, on a rotating basis, the Triangular Partnership Project to improve the engineering capacity of peacekeepers in the region and beyond. Since its formation, in 1967, ASEAN has been engaged in many regional initiatives on quiet diplomacy, conflict prevention and peacebuilding in conflict situations. In 2011, the Security Council supported ASEAN’s diplomatic efforts to promote peaceful solutions to end border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia. More recently, ASEAN’s engagement concerning the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has had enormous importance for the United Nations. It is essential that international efforts find a solution to the plight of displaced persons and refugees still living in desperate conditions. Our strengthened cooperation with ASEAN is crucial to helping advance concrete steps in line with humanitarian principles and the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. Those recommendations require urgent follow-up in their entirety, including actively creating the necessary conditions for the voluntary return in safety and dignity of Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin or choice. The United Nations also welcomes the constructive dialogue between ASEAN and China towards the maintenance of regional peace and maritime security. We look forward to the conclusion of a code of conduct in the South China Sea to help prevent maritime disputes. ASEAN plays a key role in the regional peace and security architecture, including bringing together major regional Powers within ASEAN-led forums. We encourage ASEAN to use that great convening power to effectively and creatively address peace and security threats in the broader Asia-Pacific region. The situation on the Korean peninsula remains of deep concern. Through public and quiet diplomacy, including by hosting historic meetings in Singapore and Hanoi, the ASEAN region has contributed to efforts to promote sustainable peace and security and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. With Indonesia and Viet Nam as active members of the Security Council in 2020, we hope that stronger links can be built between ASEAN and the United Nations to advance efforts on the Korean peninsula. Looking ahead, there are multiple potential areas of practical cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations in the areas of peace and security. First, ASEAN and the United Nations can strengthen cooperation on peacekeeping, including on training, increasing women’s participation in peace processes and peacekeeping, and sharing lessons learned with other regional organizations. Secondly, the United Nations stands ready to strengthen concrete technical cooperation, in particular with the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation and the recently launched ASEAN Women for Peace Registry. We look forward to strengthening our cooperation on implementing the women and peace and security agenda and to advancing the youth and peace and security agenda in the region. We also look forward to our continued cooperation on technical assistance and capacity-building in the area of human rights and the strengthened role of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. Thirdly, the United Nations will further strengthen its technical support for ASEAN in counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism, particularly through the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalization and Violent Extremism. Fourthly, ASEAN and the United Nations both recognize the urgency of improving border management to address cross-border security threats and transnational organized crime. Fifthly, ASEAN and the United Nations could jointly explore developing early-warning arrangements and threat analysis, including for well-understood threats caused by inequality and exclusion, as well as new and emerging threats in areas such as hate-speech and cybersecurity. That was discussed at the ASEAN- United Nations Regional Dialogue on Political-Security Cooperation, jointly organized by the United Nations and Viet Nam in Hanoi last month. Sixthly, with regard to the climate crisis, the climate emergency has significant wide-ranging global implications, including on peace and security. Given that four ASEAN member States rank among the 10 countries most affected by climate change in the world, we look forward to strengthening our ties with ASEAN nations as they take urgent action to strengthen adaptation and build resilience to disasters. We also look forward to supporting countries in building their energy security while decarbonizing their economies as part of mitigation action in preparation for the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Finally, after several years of close cooperation with the United Nations on natural disaster management, ASEAN recently initiated the provision of support to conflict- and human-induced disasters. In that connection, the United Nations will provide technical knowledge and build on existing relationships to forge strategic synergies, collaborations and paths forward for future work, including in the context of the resilience actions of the complementarities road map that was noted at the tenth ASEAN-United Nations Summit in November. I am deeply convinced of the value of ASEAN- United Nations cooperation for peace, security and sustainable development. With the presence of two engaged and dynamic ASEAN countries on the Council in 2020, I look forward to our two organizations working more closely together for the future we want and need.

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I now give the floor to Dato Lim Jock Hoi. Dato Lim Jock Hoi: At the outset, allow me to express my appreciation for this opportunity to brief the Security Council upon the invitation of Viet Nam, which holds the Council presidency this month and is Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2020. ASEAN is also fortunate that Indonesia, another ASEAN member State, has been a Council member since last year, thereby marking a rare opportunity for ASEAN, with two of its members sitting in the Chamber. But beyond our appreciation for the chance to speak at the Council is our acknowledgement of the recognition accorded to the important role that regional organizations, including ASEAN, play in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity. Indeed, it is often said that, because of their knowledge and familiarity of their respective region’s nuances, regional organizations are in a good position to complement the work of the United Nations. It is my honour to brief the Council today on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining peace and security and the role of ASEAN, which is based on the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations. In that connection, I am pleased to touch upon two matters  — first, ASEAN’s contributions to peace, security and prosperity, and, two, the importance of ASEAN’s relations with its external partners, including the United Nations. As is widely recognized, the global community today is fraught with many issues and challenges, from the strategic level to that of our individual peoples, and from the physical to the digital domain. The bottom line, however, is how to maintain peace and stability  — because it is peace and stability that underpin economic prosperity. In other words, without peace and stability, there can be no economic prosperity; and without economic prosperity, peace and stability would be difficult to achieve, much less to maintain. It is based on that premise that ASEAN, since it was founded in 1967, has worked diligently for peace and stability in our part of the world amid diverse political, economic and social systems. By promoting economic cooperation and serving as a confidence-building platform, ASEAN has successfully enabled the South- East Asian region to evolve — having been previously described as the Balkans of the region  — into a Community that provides opportunities to all. Indeed, the ASEAN Charter underscores the importance of the principle of comprehensive security to responding effectively to all forms of threats, transnational crimes and transboundary challenges. Having gone through difficult times in history when South-East Asia was deeply affected by wars and conflicts, the member States of ASEAN hold high the value of peace, which is clearly specified in the ASEAN Charter as the very first purpose of ASEAN, “[t]o maintain and enhance peace, security and stability and further strengthen peace-oriented values in the region”. By signing on to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, ASEAN member States committed to maintaining peaceful relationships with one another, guided by the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes, among others. To date, many of ASEAN’s external partners have likewise acceded to the Treaty, including several members of the Security Council, and other States have also manifested their interest in doing so. But beyond the political commitment to pursue and promote a cooperative relationship is the evolution of ASEAN regionalism anchored in dialogue and consultation in order to build consensus. The primacy of that approach has enabled ASEAN member States to address issues confronting the region, to arrive at approaches acceptable to all and to manage differences, thereby enabling them to move forward, notwithstanding the diversity in their political, economic and social systems. In our part of the world, we call it the ASEAN Way  — a unique manner of dealing with issues that is difficult to comprehend for some outside observers, but is fully understood by ASEAN members. In other words, the ASEAN Way has become a way of life in ASEAN. Another unique contribution of ASEAN to nurturing a conducive environment for peace and stability is the ability to initiate and be the driving force on regional mechanisms and frameworks for promoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building, bringing together not only its member States but also external partners, including key players in the region and major global Powers. The forums with ASEAN at the core — such as ASEAN+3, the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) and the East Asia Summit, long became important frameworks where the culture of peace and the habit of dialogue and cooperation are nurtured by ASEAN, thereby helping prevent disputes and conflicts from arising. ASEAN’s achievements in shaping and promoting norms that govern inter-State relations and behaviour in the region have also been duly recognized. ASEAN has been able to incorporate external Powers into its established rules and norms, including through their accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, respect for the ASEAN Way and ASEAN centrality and abiding by ASEAN’s rules in participation at ASEAN-led mechanisms. ASEAN has also actively engaged in efforts to formulate norms and codes of conduct that complement international law by ensuring that States behave in amicable ways by upholding the rule of law when managing differences and maintaining peace, security and stability. Maintaining peace and stability in the region has enabled ASEAN to reap the peace dividend, so to speak. With a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3 trillion — according to latest available figures, from 2018 — ASEAN is the fifth-largest economy in the world, accounting for 3.5 per cent of the global economy in nominal terms, and as high as 6.5 per cent in terms of purchasing power parity. For almost two decades, ASEAN has been growing at an average annual rate of 5.3 per cent — consistently above the global average. ASEAN is now a global trade powerhouse as the fourth-largest trader in the world, accounting for more than 7 per cent of global trade. ASEAN’s total trade reached $2.8 trillion in 2018 — more than 90 per cent of its GDP. ASEAN’s economic growth has directly translated into lifting people from poverty. Measured in terms of purchasing power parity, statistics show that the ASEAN population living below the $1.25 purchasing power parity per day declined from 47 per cent in 1990 to 14 per cent in 2015. That trend is expected to continue. With a population of almost 650 million people, a rapidly growing middle class and more than half of its population under the age of 30, ASEAN is a very attractive market. With such dynamism and immense potential, ASEAN has become the world’s top investment destination. In 2018, ASEAN received $154.7 billion in foreign direct investment flows — the highest in its history, accounting for almost 12 per cent of global flows. ASEAN’s efforts in economic integration have also paid off, with intra-ASEAN trade accounting for the highest shares in trade and investment, at 23 per cent and 15.9 per cent, respectively. A major part of ASEAN integration is skilled labour mobility, which is being facilitated through various mutual recognition arrangements among skilled professionals within ASEAN. It could therefore be rightfully claimed that the vision of the founding fathers of ASEAN to promote economic prosperity has today become a reality, but its positive performance thus far should not be taken for granted. It is important for ASEAN to keep its market open and forge ahead with its reform and economic integration agenda. It is likewise essential to narrow or close the development gap, as that would contribute to ensuring the sustainability of the peace dividend that ASEAN currently enjoys. It is for that reason that ASEAN puts a premium on sustainable and equitable development to make sure every part of the Community, including the Mekong and the East ASEAN areas, are on track with ASEAN’s common development path. That is also why that subregional initiatives such as the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, among others, serve as building blocks for ASEAN-wide integration and development. It is also in that sense that developing our human capital, including women, children and youth, has been high on ASEAN’s agenda. At their most recent summit last year, ASEAN leaders noted the completion of the review regarding the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan III. They tasked the Initiative’s task force with following up on the review’s recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Work Plan and sustain work on narrowing any development divide that might exist. Complementing that initiative are the poverty alleviation programmes being undertaken across ASEAN. The ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication continues to work to address challenges brought about by poverty and strengthen resilience at the community level. Last year, they issued an ASEAN ministerial statement on adopting a community- driven development. Indeed, development must be sustainable — something that has been enshrined in ASEAN’s agenda. The ASEAN Community Vision 2025, adopted in 2015, underlines the complementarity of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with ASEAN community-building efforts to raise living standards for our peoples. It is also worth noting that the sense among ASEAN peoples of belonging to ASEAN as a regional Community has deepened. To demonstrate ASEAN’s efforts as a people-oriented, people-centred Community and enhance ASEAN’s abilities to provide assistance to our nationals, ASEAN has operationalized its guidelines on consular assistance by ASEAN member States’ missions in third countries to nationals of other ASEAN member States. As ASEAN moves forward towards its goal of building an ASEAN Community, challenges abound. Like other regions in the world, we have a number of issues that could potentially make the South-East Asian region unstable. ASEAN has taken pragmatic steps to deal with those issues and prevent them from making our region volatile, in full cognizance of their complexities. While external observers oftentimes view ASEAN as not doing enough, ASEAN’s success or failure in dealing with those issues should be judged by whether or not ASEAN has prevented conflict from arising or spreading further. ASEAN’s community-building efforts are complemented and supported by its robust external partnerships, including with the United Nations. Beyond being granted observer status by the General Assembly, there are established modalities for ASEAN-United Nations relations at various levels based on mutual benefit, from Secretariat-to- secretariat interaction between our organizations and the ASEAN-United Nations ministerial meeting to the ASEAN-United Nations summit, where ASEAN leaders and the Secretary-General of the United Nations engage in strategic dialogue. That is aimed at strengthening ASEAN-United Nations cooperation in line with the joint declaration on cooperation in the spheres of political-security, economic and socio- cultural cooperation. We adopted the Complementarities Roadmap 2020-2025 to promote synergy between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the most recent ASEAN- United Nations summit, held in Bangkok in November 2019. Through the Roadmap, ASEAN hopes to ensure that its Vision 2025 supports and contributes to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. Likewise, it is meant to ensure that the goals set forth in the Sustainable Development Agenda are taken into account as ASEAN pursues its community-building vision. The complementarities vision is highlighted in a series of symposiums on the Sustainable Development Goals that ASEAN has undertaken in its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme since 2016, as well as the annual High-Level Brainstorming Dialogue on Enhancing Complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which ASEAN has co-organized with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific since 2017. Meanwhile, ever since the five-year Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations was put in place, in 2016, tangible results have been achieved, with 93 per cent of action lines  — or 96 out of 103  — contained in the Plan having been implemented thus far. That is a testament to the commitment of our organizations in sustaining our comprehensive partnership. Among the areas where ASEAN and the United Nations have pursued cooperation are, to name but a few, transnational issues; humanitarian assistance and disaster response; the prevention and control of infectious diseases; counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism; preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution; peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding; nuclear disarmament; capacity-building, such as on the role of women in promoting peace and security; and addressing the global existential threat of climate change, including natural hazards, haze pollution and changes in global weather patterns, which have created disturbances previously unseen in terms of scale and magnitude. As we witness fluctuating temperatures and weather disturbances afflicting places previously unaffected by such calamities, disaster risk reduction and management as well as resilience must remain priorities for ASEAN-United Nations cooperation. We therefore appreciate the continuing role of the United Nations in enhancing the capacity of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management through its capacity-building programmes. ASEAN is also making efforts to better prepare the ASEAN Community to address existing and forthcoming challenges, such as natural disasters, by diversifying its sources of funding. Terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization are among the major security challenges that the global community continues to face. ASEAN itself has not been spared the terror attacks perpetuated by extremists and radical groups and individuals and is therefore taking pragmatic steps to address this issue. We have adopted the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalization and Violent Extremism (2018- 2025) and its work plan, the Bali Work Plan. ASEAN sees the importance of comprehensive approaches to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism, which dovetails with the Secretary- General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. By adopting the ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society in 2017, ASEAN has taken steps to promote a culture of prevention by focusing on understanding the root cause and consequences of violent extremism, with an emphasis on the importance of moderation to counter violent extremism, including radicalization. Such initiatives are complemented by additional ASEAN and United Nations efforts, including a range of capacity-building activities to address the phenomena of foreign terrorist fighters and terrorism financing. Given the possibility of extremists and radicalized individuals developing improvised explosive devices, it is equally important that ASEAN develop its capacity to ensure that the various chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear elements, which are primarily lodged under the medical and science sectors of the individual ASEAN member States, are protected and secured, thereby preventing individuals and groups from using such elements and materials for illicit and criminal activities. As ASEAN deepens its community-building process and our borders become more seamless, we expect to see an increasing flow of people, whether for tourism or job opportunities, across ASEAN member States. Increased flows of people are accompanied by the attendant social, political, economic and even security risks, which need to be mitigated. ASEAN is therefore working on effective border management, which will contribute to ensuring the security of ASEAN peoples against transnational crimes and other cross-border challenges. Preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention are a shared area of interest between the United Nations and ASEAN. As we have stressed, ASEAN itself is a living testament to the importance of preventive diplomacy, with conflict prevention being one of the reasons for its existence. Throughout ASEAN’s evolution as a regional organization, preventing disputes from arising, preventing them from becoming conflicts and preventing the spread of conflict — the three elements of preventive diplomacy — have been ASEAN’s key objectives. Cooperation with the United Nations in further enhancing our capacity to undertake preventive diplomacy measures, such as, for example, through workshops organized by the United Nations in conjunction with the ASEAN Regional Forum, one of whose key milestones is preventive diplomacy, is beneficial. Capacity-building activities such as the ASEAN- United Nations workshops and regional dialogues on political-security cooperation, a flagship programme under the ASEAN-United Nations comprehensive partnership since 2012, has been useful for ASEAN. The workshops have focused on a range of issues important to ASEAN: preventive diplomacy, in 2014, conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy and the prevention of violent extremism, in 2016, the role of women in the prevention of violent extremism, in 2018, and more recently, in December last year, enhancing the capacity of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. In 2020, ASEAN plans to co-organize with the United Nations the second ASEAN-United Nations Electoral Observation Workshop to promote good governance, human rights and democracy in the region through training and sharing of best practices. Apart from solving its own issues, through its members States ASEAN also makes a tangible contribution to the work of the United Nations by participating and contributing to United Nations peacekeeping missions. We note that to date, ASEAN member States have contributed around 5,000 peacekeepers to various United Nations missions, including the peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and South Sudan. All 10 ASEAN member States have endorsed the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative, renewing our collective engagement with United Nations peacekeeping. Within ASEAN, we are taking steps to further develop our peacekeeping-operation-related competencies and capacities through our ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network and through the Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations under the ADMM-Plus. On that note, I would like to convey our appreciation to our ADMM-Plus partners for their continued participation and support to the said Experts’ Working Group and its practical activities. In addition to maintaining peace through peacekeeping operations and enforcing it through peace-enforcement mechanisms, building peace is equally, if not more, important. Peacebuilding has always been a priority of ASEAN’s agenda, where the participation of all sectors, including women, plays a key role. ASEAN leaders themselves affirmed that in 2017, when they adopted the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN. The establishment of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry is a step towards the goal of women playing a greater role in building peace. That is an area where ASEAN and the United Nations could further enhance collaboration. It is also encouraging that there is now momentum for strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations in support of the enhanced role of women within ASEAN in areas such as peacekeeping operations, mediation and reconciliation. ASEAN shares similar goals and a like-minded vision with the United Nations in its efforts to pursue the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction by signing the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995. While the Treaty and its plan of action are already being implemented, the signing of the Treaty’s Protocol by the Permanent Five remains inconclusive. In the light of that, we are hopeful that the United Nations can support the ongoing efforts of the States parties to the Treaty and nuclear-weapon States to resolve all outstanding issues, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty. We would also like to highlight that ASEAN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed the ASEAN-IAEA Practical Arrangements, which set out a framework of cooperation in the areas of nuclear science, technology and applications and nuclear safety, security and safeguards for a period of five years. Meanwhile, dealing with the so-called remnants of war, particularly unexploded ordnance, given the security risk that they pose to our people, remains one of ASEAN’s priorities, including the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center. Likewise, the Expert Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action has been established under the ADMM-Plus. That is therefore one area on which the United Nations and ASEAN could work further. The advent of the digital age and the fourth industrial revolution present many opportunities. As early as 2017, the digital economy already accounted for 7 per cent of ASEAN’s GDP. The potential is massive. If fully utilized, digital integration could uplift the region’s GDP by $1 trillion by 2025, which equaled one-third of the region’s GDP in 2019. In that context, last year ASEAN leaders issued the ASEAN Declaration on the Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0 and reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to develop a consolidated strategy for the fourth industrial revolution. ASEAN’s digital penetration is high, with cellular/mobile phone density now pegged at 128 per cent, indicating that each person within the ASEAN region actually owns more than one mobile phone. Internet subscription is at 50 per cent. In that context, the ASEAN Smart Cities Network is a promising initiative that promotes interoperability, enables cities to share best practices on addressing urbanization and deepens ASEAN’s integration as a single digital market. As such, we welcome the partnerships that various United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, have developed to support the implementation of smart cities in the region. But the fourth industrial revolution also poses challenges for ASEAN, particularly amid the ongoing rapid urbanization in our region. ASEAN therefore needs to enhance its capacity to deal with the attendant risks of technological and scientific development, particularly in view of the growing sophistication and transboundary nature of cyberthreats. At the thirty- fifth ASEAN Summit in November last year, ASEAN leaders emphasized the need to enhance regional cybersecurity cooperation through a feasible cross-pillar cybersecurity cooperation mechanism, strengthening a rules-based cyberspace, as well as supporting the cybersecurity activities and training programmes of the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Singapore and the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre in Bangkok. We welcome the United Nations support in those efforts. We also look forward to collaborating with the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts and the Open-ended Working Group on the issue of security in the use of information and communications technology. The engagement with those United Nations bodies would be useful for ASEAN. The areas that I sketched out are just few of the those on which ASEAN and the United Nations collaborate. ASEAN and the United Nations are collaborating in many other areas. We look forward to commencing work on crafting the next plan of action of the ASEAN-United Nations comprehensive partnership for the period 2021-2025 to sustain the momentum of our cooperation. As the year 2020 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, those present can count on ASEAN’s efforts and commitment to uphold the Charter. We in ASEAN are committed to multilateralism and its processes, of which the United Nations remains at the very centre. The United Nations continues to be the most important platform for pursuing international cooperation and dialogue, as well as resolving many of the world’s most pressing problems. The seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations provides an opportune time for the States Members of the United Nations, including ASEAN countries, to work closely together towards the strengthening of the United Nations for the better, and in the interest of international peace, security and prosperity. We therefore look forward to participating and contributing to the United Nations seventy-fifth anniversary’s global conversation towards shaping the future we want and the United Nations we need. In conclusion, the Council plays a critical role in keeping and maintaining global peace and stability. Worth commending are the efforts being undertaken within the Council to ensure that it remains responsive to the increasing demands of keeping the peace and maintaining a secure and stable world for all. We hope to learn more through exchanges about best practices and capacity-building initiatives, as we in ASEAN also continue to evolve our organization so that it remains cohesive and responsive to the increasing demands and needs of our region and beyond. A strong, united and cohesive ASEAN is in the interest of the international community. We look forward to the continued support of all our partners so that we will continue to maintain peace and stability in the region, while we work to bring greater prosperity and development to the peoples of ASEAN. Again, allow me to reiterate our appreciation for this opportunity to speak at the Council today.

I thank Dato Lim Jock Hoi for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I would like to thank Secretary-General Guterres for coming here and providing us with his important briefing, as well as the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dato Lim Jock Hoi, for his briefing. I believe that this is the first time that an ASEAN Secretary-General has come to the Security Council, which marks a historic moment for all of us here. Much has already been said. The ASEAN Secretary- General mentioned that ASEAN was established in 1967, at a time when South-East Asia was marred by disputes, distrust and anxiety. Today, with a total population of more than 650 million, we are among the fastest-growing economies and the engine of global growth. ASEAN member States are contributing over 5,000 personnel to various United Nations peacekeeping missions. ASEAN’s collective efforts and its culture of dialogue and consensus-building — or what we call the ASEAN Way — dispelled the elements of distrust and set off a remarkable cycle of peace, trust and prosperity. I believe that the ASEAN Secretary-General alluded to that point as well. For those reasons, we believe that much can be learned from ASEAN, and that ASEAN will be able to adapt to new challenges if continuous dialogue between the United Nations and other regional organizations is strengthened. Let me highlight three pertinent points on how ASEAN complements the work of the United Nations and how we can improve synergies, particularly in the area of peace and security. First, I will address ASEAN’s collective contribution to peace and security. We are a firm believer that conflict benefits no one, and that sweeping the problem under the carpet does not resolve differences. That is why in 2015 we established the ASEAN Community with its three pillars: political-security, economy and sociocultural communities. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia  — which has been acceded to by over 40 countries  — our cooperation with ASEAN partners and the ASEAN Regional Forum are among the ways in which we expand the ASEAN Way. I believe that the ASEAN Regional Forum is the only forum to which many parties, including Korea, are members. We also promote confidence-building, preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution approaches. ASEAN countries also engage with other continents  — with countries of the Pacific, through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum; the European Union, through the Asia-Europe Meeting; Latin America, through the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation; ASEAN-the Southern Common Market Ministerial Meeting and others. ASEAN also recently endorsed the Indo-Pacific Outlook. That is how we would like to strengthen ASEAN centrality and enhance our community-building process, based on several principles, including centrality, inclusivity, non-interference and others. Within the framework of ASEAN and United Nations collaboration, enhancing the capacity and capabilities of peacekeeping personnel is one area that must be strengthened. ASEAN countries have participated in peacekeeping operations since as early as the 1950s under the banner of the Blue Helmets. As both Secretaries-General mentioned, all 10 ASEAN member countries have endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. That is an important part. There are many areas on which we can work. The Secretary-General of ASEAN pointed out several of them. Secretary-General Guterres pointed out six practical areas of cooperation. We certainly welcome all of them. I would like to highlight in particular where we can work together on issues related to peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, early warning, peace and security, climate change  — which is an important issue for us in ASEAN  — and disaster management. I believe we are the only region that boasts having all of the world’s natural disasters, from hailstorms to cyclones to tsunamis. That helped us develop expertise in those areas. My second point relates to ASEAN’s contribution to emerging non-traditional security challenges. In the field of non-traditional security, ASEAN’s numerous platforms of cooperation and engagement — covering issues such as counter-terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrimes, illicit drug trafficking and many more  — have also contributed to making the region much safer. In the maritime domain, for instance, there is the ASEAN Maritime Forum, established to address maritime issues in a holistic, integrated and comprehensive manner. As I mentioned, South-East Asian States are also geographically prone to natural disasters. Through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, ASEAN has developed capabilities to facilitate cooperation and coordination assistance during disaster relief efforts. It is also through the Centre that ASEAN countries have worked together to address humanitarian issues in Rakhine state. Although there are many thematic issues addressed within the ASEAN context, I would like to highlight one important point, which is also under intense discussion in the Security Council, namely, ASEAN’s contribution within the framework of the women and peace and security agenda. We believe that it is crucial to ensure the full and effective participation of women in all stages of peace processes. In that connection, ASEAN has established the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry  — a pool of ASEAN women experts that seeks to promote gender perspectives in peace and reconciliation processes in ASEAN. Indonesia is also working to establish the South-East Asian network of women peace negotiators and mediators. We hope that the two forums can be part of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks. Those are just snippets of ASEAN’s role in maintaining peace and security. It is no coincidence that, for the past 53 years, guns have fallen silent in South-East Asia. In conclusion, the region has benefited from ASEAN’s existence, and we believe the organization has also contributed to the maintenance of international peace and security. As a way forward, we envisage a larger role in sharing the ASEAN Way to address issues of common concern. We are part of the global community. We will continue to contribute to finding solutions to global challenges, as responsible members of the global society.

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, for putting this item on today’s agenda as the culmination of your presidency. I must say that I was very impressed when I heard the remarks of the Secretary-General with respect to the achievements of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the years, in particular in economic terms, but also in other areas. At this stage, I would like to welcome all ASEAN Ambassadors present in the Chamber. The development of ASEAN was always very important to Germany. After the Second World War, it was key for Germany to integrate into the European Union (EU) in 1957. That was perhaps the best thing that happened for us. On the basis of the experience of European integration, we always promoted ASEAN cooperation. As a young diplomat, I remember working with the German Foreign Minister at the time, Hans- Dietrich Genscher, whose close friend was later the President of Indonesia, Mr. Habibie, who, as Minister of Research and Technology of Indonesia, was one of the promoters of ASEAN and of cooperation between the EU and ASEAN and Germany and ASEAN. President Habibie passed away last year. He was a very close friend of Germany. According to our notes, today we — Germany — have been the primary development partner of ASEAN since 2016. We signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in November 2019. We therefore happily remain a strong ASEAN partner. Turning back to the European Union, at the same time, we have always promoted cooperation between the European Union and ASEAN. That cooperation developed over time. We now seek a strategic partnership with ASEAN. I listened closely to the contributions of ASEAN to the United Nations. I think that it has become increasingly clear from our many discussions that regional partnerships are important. We talk at length about the partnerships between the African Union and the United Nations and the EU and the United Nations. The ASEAN-United Nations partnership is also very important and can still be strengthened. My Indonesian colleague mentioned some of the areas in which cooperation can be strengthened, from security to climate change to disaster management. I would like to make a couple of points and start with the remarks of the Secretary-General pertaining to commitment to the United Nations and to the Charter of the United Nations. Germany also firmly believes in adhering to the United Nations Charter, the international rules-based order, human rights and accountability for violations of international law and international humanitarian law. We encourage ASEAN to embrace the universality of human rights in its regional policy. Germany and the European Union stand ready to work with ASEAN to share lessons learned. In his statement, the Secretary-General also mentioned the situation in Myanmar and the challenge posed by the Rohingya crisis. We take note of a very encouraging statement, which was released on the occasion of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers retreat a month ago, in which ASEAN acknowledged “the need for ASEAN to be more visible and to play an enhanced role in supporting Myanmar”. We welcome ASEAN’s growing commitment to finding solutions to the Rohingya crisis. We encourage and support ASEAN in capacity-building at the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. I would again like to pay tribute to my Indonesian colleague, who has been very active in that area. With regard to upholding international law and the United Nations Charter, in the light of the decision of the International Court of Justice with regard to the case Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) and the report of the Independent Commission of Enquiry, which were both released last week, we again urge ASEAN member States, the Government of Myanmar and the Myanmar military to ensure full accountability for all crimes and severe human rights violations that took place in 2016 and 2017. Impunity for those crimes must end. Returning to the statement by the ASEAN Secretary-General, in which he mentioned several times the promotion of women, an issue that I would also highlight and support. During our presidency of the Security Council last year, we worked together with the members to adopt resolution 2467 (2019), on sexual violence in conflict and accountability for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence. We believe that accountability must be ensured and that a survivor-centred approach to justice has to be adopted. Accordingly, we strongly support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, established by the Human Rights Council, and its important work. We would also respectfully encourage ASEAN member States to seek further avenues, by way of regional cooperation, to effectively address such events in their region and to prevent their recurrence. Speaking of conflict prevention, which was also highlighted by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, I would like to pick up on what the Secretary-General of the United Nations mentioned, namely, the situation in the South China Sea. As a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Germany underlines its interest in the universal application of UNCLOS, which sets out the comprehensive legal framework for the conduct of all activities in the oceans and seas, including the implementation of arbitration rulings.

It was a pleasure to have the Secretary-General of the United Nations here, as well as the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dato Lim Jock Hoi, whom we thank for his briefing and for highlighting ASEAN’s essential and growing role in regional cooperation. ASEAN lies at the heart of our relationship with the Indo-Pacific region. The United States partnership and friendship with ASEAN has been consistently guided by our respect for sovereignty and our commitment to the rule of law, good governance and sovereignty enabling economic growth. On the basis of those foundational principles, the United States supports strong cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN, guided by Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The United States and ASEAN’s deepening economic relationship has resulted in explosive growth and tangible benefits on both sides of the Pacific. United States collective investment in ASEAN member States stands now at $271 billion, and American businesses strengthen ASEAN communities where they operate. We play by the rules, we believe in fair competition, we abhor corruption. Those principles build trust, grow human capital and establish lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. In addition, the United States is partnering to advance high-quality infrastructure development through the Blue Dot Network. The Network provides a seal of approval for high-standard projects, demonstrating our enduring commitment to the best interests of the region. ASEAN also plays a critical role in reinforcing the international rules-based order, which is as important as ever in maintaining global peace and stability. As we see attempts to impede the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms under international law, we must steadfastly uphold those rights and freedoms. Among the places where the freedom of the seas is most threatened is the South China Sea. The assertion of unlawful and sweeping maritime claims, including through ongoing bullying against long-standing oil and gas development and fishing practices by others, threatens the rules-based order that has enabled the region to prosper. Our position in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the world is simple: the rights and interest of all nations, regardless of size, power or military capabilities, must be respected. We call on all States to resolve their territorial and maritime disputes peacefully and without coercion; to fashion their maritime claims and conduct their maritime activities in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; and to respect the freedoms of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea. We take note of the ongoing negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. We have consistently expressed our support for a meaningful code of conduct, fully in accordance with international law, that commits all parties to refraining from provocative and destabilizing behaviour. However, we are concerned that, as the document is being negotiated, the People’s Republic of China has repeatedly engaged in provocative and destabilizing activity aimed at pressuring South-East Asian claimant States into entering joint development arrangements for marine resources. The most recent example of that type of coercion is the presence of a large China-flagged fishing fleet with armed escorts in the vicinity of an island belonging to an ASEAN country. That follows interference by the People’s Republic of China with another ASEAN country’s long-standing oil and gas activities through the redeployment of a Government- owned survey vessel, together with armed escorts, into waters offshore of that country. Such behaviour, especially amid ongoing code of conduct negotiations, raises serious doubts about the intention of the People’s Republic of China to agree to an effective code of conduct. If a code of conduct is used by some to legitimize egregious behaviour and unlawful maritime claims, or is inconsistent with international law, it will prove harmful to the region and to all who value the freedom of the seas. The United States also remains deeply concerned by the plight of the Rohingya. As we continue to support Burma’s democratic transition, we urge Burma’s Government to address the root causes of the situation, create conditions conducive to safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable returns, provide justice for the victims and hold those responsible for ethnic cleansing and other grave human rights abuse to account. With regard to the order of the International Court of Justice, the United States encourages all parties to respect the Court’s order and comply with the provisional measures indicated in it. We welcome ASEAN’s efforts to address the situation and Rakhine state. United Nations agencies have unique expertise and capacity, and we urge the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre and the recently established ASEAN Secretariat Ad Hoc Support Team to work closely with United Nations agencies and support their ongoing efforts. The year 2020 also marks the five-year anniversary of elevating our relationship with ASEAN to a strategic partnership. Support for a strong, united ASEAN remains at the heart of our Indo-Pacific strategy. We greatly value that partnership and the chance to hear ASEAN’s voice on changing regional dynamics and challenges. President Trump also looks forward to listening to that voice when he hosts ASEAN leaders in the United States in the first quarter of this year. We hope to discuss our shared principles and vision for the region, one that sees ever-greater prosperity and security and is grounded in respect for the rights and freedoms granted to all nations.

It is my pleasure and honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African members of the Security Council, namely, the Niger, South Africa and Tunisia. We would like to thank the President for organizing this briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in maintaining peace and security, with a focus on partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We also thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of ASEAN for their important briefings. It is important that the Security Council continue to engage on a regular basis with regional organizations on ways to encourage the peaceful settlement of disputes and maintain peace and security in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. On several occasions, regional and subregional arrangements have proved to be highly knowledgeable and efficient in dealing with local issues. Their understanding of local dynamics and deep insight into the history of events sometimes make all the difference. We believe that through stronger cooperation, the United Nations and regional organizations can leverage their respective comparative advantages in seeking effective solutions to the increasingly complex peace and security challenges all over the world. In that regard, we welcome the significant progress in the cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN since the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations during the fourth ASEAN-United Nations Summit in Indonesia in November 2011, and the adoption in 2016 of the first ASEAN-United Nations Plan of Action to implement the Joint Declaration, for the period 2016-2020. We are pleased to hear that almost all the items included in that ambitious plan of action, which covers political, security, economic and sociocultural cooperation, have already been addressed. In particular, we would like to commend the efforts made to enhance the cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations in the area of peace and security. We further commend ASEAN’s efforts to promote mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations within their region. These values mirror those enshrined in the United Nations Charter and create an important platform for bolstering cooperation with the United Nations. Through preventive diplomacy, ASEAN plays an important role in conflict prevention, resolution and management. The approach to promoting dialogue to resolve conflict supports the actions envisioned in Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, which emphasizes the pacific settlement of disputes. We believe that Chapter VI should be the first port of call for Council efforts to maintain international peace and security. The principles espoused by ASEAN therefore make it an important and natural partner in the pursuit of peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region. In that regard, we appreciate ASEAN’s contribution to efforts to address the root causes of the Rohingya refugee crises. We would also like to stress the need to intensify those efforts in order to ensure the refugees a voluntary, safe and dignified return to their homeland. The valuable contribution of ASEAN member States to United Nations peacekeeping operations, with the deployment of approximately 5,000 military and police personnel, as well as the organization of training programmes, is also commendable. We also highly value the cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations in the field of counter-terrorism and the adoption by ASEAN, in November 2018, of its Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalization and Violent Extremism. ASEAN’s role as a bridge-builder extending beyond its members, through such dialogue platforms as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN+3 — China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, which it initiated — is also now well established and we are confident that it can contribute to finding solutions to some of the security issues in the broader region. We believe that greater consultation in the decision-making of the Security Council with such regional organizations as ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the European Union and the African Union (AU), is essential for achieving strategic convergence and coherence with a view to addressing today’s complex peace and security challenges. In that regard, we are pleased to note that the United Nations and the African Union have made significant progress in developing a strategic partnership to address such challenges in Africa, which has resulted in joint approaches and better-coordinated, coherent and effective initiatives to prevent, resolve and manage conflicts on the continent based on the spirit of the 2017 Joint United Nations- AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. As a testimony of that strategic partnership, the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council hold an annual joint consultative meeting, at which they discuss a range of matters, mainly related to conflict situations on the continent. Such joint meetings are preceded by informal consultations that focus on thematic issues, such as how to strengthen cooperation between the two organs. In addition, both organizations work together to identify a wide range of thematic issues designed to further promote peace and security in the African continent. Those issues include mediation; women, peace and security; electoral support, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development; and youth, peace and security. The Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative clearly illustrates that enhanced cooperation and coordination, in accordance with resolution 2457 (2019), adopted in February 2019, and the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020, on practical steps to attain the goal of a conflict-free Africa. Despite that important progress, cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is still far from delivering on its promises, and greatly enhanced efforts are needed if the Security Council is to fully utilize this tool, under Chapter VIII. We need to reflect more on such issues as how to strengthen coordination and coherence between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations regarding peace and security matters, how to develop a joint decision-making framework to make their joint action more effective and, most importantly, how to support peace efforts initiated by regional organizations through secure, sustainable and predictable resources. In that regard, we would like to echo the African Union request to endorse access to United Nations assessed contributions to fund its peace-support operations, which are undertaken on behalf of the United Nations and, in particular, the Security Council. In conclusion, let me thank you again, Mr. President, for choosing this important subject for our briefing. We are confident that under Viet Nam’s able chairmanship, ASEAN will endeavour to further enhance its cooperation with the United Nations.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their presence here and for their briefings. Regional cooperation is a cornerstone of Belgium’s foreign policy. Regional organizations are often the best placed to understand and overcome the specific challenges of their respective regions. South-East Asia is a region of overall stability, and regional cooperation has much to do with that. I particularly commend ASEAN for its work in the area of preventive diplomacy. We can undoubtedly learn a great deal from the organization in terms of the promotion of dialogue, confidence-building and conflict prevention. We also highlight the contribution of ASEAN countries to peace and stability beyond their borders through the generous provision of peacekeepers to United Nations missions. The training work carried out at the regional level, in accordance with the ASEAN-United Nations plan of action for 2016-2020, is of paramount importance in that regard. We therefore look forward to the new ASEAN- United Nations plan of action. Among the many areas of activity envisaged, climate change, transnational organized crime and human rights are, in our view, of particular importance. We support the engagement of the United Nations with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and its Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. Moreover, ASEAN countries are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly sea level rise. Regional cooperation is crucial in that regard, particularly through risk and impact reduction strategies. I would also like to mention two specific issues where ASEAN can play a positive and decisive role. First, regarding the resolution of disputes concerning the South China Sea, it is my hope that the parties will be able to address the issue peacefully, through dialogue, and comply with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The current efforts of ASEAN member States and China to conclude a code of conduct on the South China Sea demonstrate that that wish is within reach. All the parties should therefore refrain from any unilateral action contrary to international law. In addition, they should promote confidence-building measures. Maritime safety and security and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the effective fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea, are at stake. Secondly, I would like to underline ASEAN’s involvement, through its Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, in resolving the crisis in Rakhine state in Myanmar. Humanitarian access is a major concern and a strengthened role of ASEAN, complementary to that of the United Nations, would be very helpful in that regard. We encourage the AHA Centre to work to facilitate the voluntary, dignified and safe return of the Rohingya refugees. Belgium also stresses the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict and of fighting impunity. In that context, I refer to the unanimous order issued by the International Court of Justice last week and emphasize the need to fully implement the provisional measures provided for therein. In conclusion, Belgium will continue to support the strengthening and deepening of synergies between the United Nations and ASEAN. The organizations are highly complementary and share the objectives not only of stability and peace, but also of promoting multilateralism and a rules-based international order.

We thank the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for convening this very useful and timely discussion. We extend our gratitude to the Secretaries-General for their insightful remarks on a topic that is dear to the hearts of many across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Regional and subregional organizations act as conduits that link our global governance structure to the local and contextual realities found within many States across the world. For small island developing States like ours, regional cooperation creates much- needed buffers that insulate us from the rigours of a rapidly changing, and often tumultuous, global political economy. Indeed, threats to international peace and security are transnational in character and necessitate collective action in order to yield just and equitable outcomes. Such threats include climate change, cross- border terrorism, mass human displacement and other hazards that hold no regard for territorial integrity and easily overwhelm the capacity of many States. For small States like ours, the sharing of such burdens on a regional basis is the only feasible option. Justice and equity are often born through a shared history of struggle and solidarity. Collective struggle shapes collective identities, which in turn fosters deep- rooted and meaningful relationships. In the case of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), those relationships are conditioned by culturally determined modes of interaction among member States and mediated in line with the principles of sovereignty, non-interference and mutual respect. In the context of CARICOM, our regional identity takes the form of unity in diversity, embodied across our shared institutions, fostering trust, confidence and a spirit of partnership. In both cases, a normative “togetherness” is nurtured without impeding the local cultures and values from which member States draw their national identities. For both CARICOM and ASEAN, full respect for sovereignty is an essential condition for peace. What makes ASEAN distinctive from many similar organizations, however, is its unique method of conflict prevention and conflict resolution, known as the ASEAN Way. Based on the norms of pragmatism, reciprocity, compromise, discretion and non-confrontational negotiating styles, ASEAN has been able to craft a zone of stable peace without transcending the traditions of statehood that regionalism intends to enhance. At a time when many conflicts seem to stem from clashes of identity along ethnic, communal or political lines, the ASEAN Way might offer the United Nations a template from which we can settle our many differences. Similarly, the unity in diversity model fomented across CARICOM can instil in the United Nations a spirit of togetherness, while allowing local cultures and national values to flourish. If we truly want to craft a more peaceful and prosperous world, we can look to regional groups, such as ASEAN, that have found ways to integrate their differences into a singular diverse fabric. That calls for, above all else, full respect for each country’s right to self-determination, no matter what political, social or economic path it may choose. We stand at a dangerous crossroads today. Some parts of the world are being consumed by fire, while others are engulfed by water. As the climate crisis continues to grow in scope and complexity, we must all join together nationally, regionally and globally so that we may weather this storm. As a former Caribbean regionalist, Forbes Burnham, once said: “Either we integrate, or we perish.” We must work together in the interest of our common humankind.

I too would like to thank the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their briefings, which highlighted how cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations cover all the areas regularly addressed by the Security Council, and beyond. I would first like to underscore in particular the importance of the cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN in the maintenance of international and regional peace and security. That cooperation continues to be strengthened, particularly since the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations at the ASEAN-United Nations Summit in Bali in 2011. There are currently 5,000 ASEAN member State personnel deployed within United Nations peace operations. France supports that mobilization by contributing to the activities of two training schools for future Blue Helmets, in Cambodia and Viet Nam, particularly by teaching them French for deployment in French-speaking areas. The participation of women in the peace and security agenda is crucial, and France commends the launch of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry over a year ago. ASEAN has also become a key partner of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. ASEAN’s active participation in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, which we will renegotiate this year, is one of the conditions underpinning its success in supporting countries of the region in drawing up national responses to those challenges and encouraging them to step up regional cooperation. ASEAN and the United Nations have also joined forces to promote sustainable development. ASEAN’s close cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, for example, has achieved significant results in economic and social development across the region. ASEAN and the United Nations have also been cooperating on the implementation of priority actions based on complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The links between ASEAN and the United Nations have been strengthened through the establishment of a partnership based on shared priorities, foremost among which are tackling inequalities, combating climate change and preserving the environment. I also recall that United Nations coordination with regional organizations is a key tool in accomplishing the Organization’s mission of fostering peace and security. That is one of the major thrusts of the Secretary- General’s reform agenda, which France fully supports. That partnership is part of the framework provided for in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and without prejudice to the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. The regional level is essential to reinforce and sometimes rebuild the bonds of trust and friendship among countries of the same region that have been formed based on geographical proximity and historical and cultural ties. That proximity and the awareness of local situations bestow full legitimacy on subregional and regional organizations to be stakeholders in the resolution of crises close to them. In that regard, both the Council and ASEAN must be fully mobilized to ensure that the crimes committed in Burma, particularly in the Rakhine state, do not go unpunished. That is a moral and justice imperative. France notes the 23 January order of the International Court of Justice in the proceedings on the alleged violations by Burma in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) on the provisional measures that it decided on, pending a decision on the merits, in order to safeguard the rights of the Rohingya people in Burma. The Burmese authorities must implement the protective measures decided on by the Court, ensure unimpeded access humanitarian aid and create conditions conducive to a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Burma. Moreover, as we said last August together with Germany and the United Kingdom, we welcome the ongoing negotiations between ASEAN member States and China to establish a code of conduct in the South China Sea, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and guaranteeing cooperation with third countries. France calls on all littoral States to take measures to prevent and reduce tensions and to promote and maintain peace, security, stability and safety in the region. In conclusion, I wish to underline that France intends to deepen its relations with South-East Asia, in particular with ASEAN, as an organization that has contributed so much to peace and stability in a region that is central to the Indo-Pacific area. France wishes in particular to become a development partner of the organization so as to further bolster our work in the areas of multilateralism, sustainable development, peace and security in South-East Asia.

We thank Secretary-General António Guterres and the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dato Lim Jock Hoi, for their informative briefings on cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. We also appreciate the initiative of our colleagues from Viet Nam to convene this thematic meeting of the Security Council on the subject of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in this case ASEAN. We consider ASEAN to be one of the most successful integrative associations. It plays an important role in ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. We have consistently called for the strengthening of the central role of its 10 member States in regional affairs. We commend their contribution to the work of United Nations peacekeeping operations. This year marks the twenty-fourth anniversary of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership. Within that period, we have achieved impressive progress in every area of our cooperation. A robust treaty and legal basis for cooperation has been established, which can now be described as a strategic partnership. We have launched effective joint mechanisms and our trade, economic and humanitarian ties are steadily developing. We have laid the foundation for closer coordination of steps at key multilateral platforms, foremost among which is the United Nations. We have had meaningful dialogue in the area of policy and security, focused on establishing an equal, balanced and transparent system of inter-State relations in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2016 Russia-ASEAN Summit, held in Sochi, was the first high-level meeting to be convened in Russia in the history of our relations. The Summit resulted in the adoption of the Sochi Declaration and the 2016-2020 Comprehensive Plan of Action to Promote Cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation. Russia and ASEAN are like-minded on issues such as establishing an open and balanced security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, based on the principles of the rule of international law, non-interference in internal affairs, the non-use or threat of use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We are united in our aspirations to prevent the emergence in the region of new dividing lines, as well as the undermining of equality and consensus in the work of inter-State associations built around ASEAN. Recently, however, including at today’s meeting, we have heard much about a rules-based order that, as far as we can judge, is based on a selective approach to international law and the concept of so-called Indo- Pacific region — a concept that has emerged seemingly out of nowhere. When we look at geographical maps and ask the authors of that concept what the difference is between the Indo-Pacific strategies and cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region, they say that Indo-Pacific strategies are ostensibly more open and democratic. At the same time, they do not include East Africa or the Persian Gulf as part of the Indo-Pacific region. Naturally, China does not fall within that region either. That raises the question of what the added value is of a format that divides rather than unites. Such dubious novelties in no way promote regional cooperation or a unifying agenda. Alongside other dialogue partners of ASEAN, Russia is helping the organization to build its capacities in addressing new threats and challenges, such as terrorism, transnational crime and illegal drug trafficking. We are especially focused on the consistent implementation of the Statement of ASEAN and the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies, which was adopted at the 2018 ASEAN-Russia Summit held in Singapore. We are taking steps aimed at harmonizing the various integration associations and undertakings with the involvement of the East Asia Economic Caucus, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and ASEAN. These efforts have laid the foundation for the creation in Eurasia of an innovative centre free from barriers and based on the principles of international law and the norms of the World Trade Organization, as well as respect for different development models and the rights of peoples to themselves determine which path they want to take forward. That philosophy lies at the heart of the Greater Eurasian Partnership initiative, which was advanced by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin at the ASEAN-Russia Summit. We deem it important to build dialogue and practical partnership between the SCO and ASEAN given that both organizations work to resolve the same security and sustainable development issues in Asia. Based on the positive experience of cooperation between the United Nations and the SCO, including the third high-level meeting on the terrorism and organized crime nexus, held in New York in November 2019, we propose that we embark on a process of reflection on expanding the format of such events to include ASEAN. It would also be useful for ASEAN and the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure to exchange experiences on a well-developed legal and treaty basis and effective mechanisms for inter-State cooperation. In connection with the ideas that have being expressed here about the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, I would like to underscore that our view is that any territorial disputes in that region must be resolved between the States in question on a bilateral basis, in the context of the subject of today’s meeting, which is aimed at building cooperation and advancing a unifying agenda in the region. It is unacceptable to impose a particular vision of the resolution and settlement of disputes and of thorny issues on the basis of narrow national interests, especially if this is being done by States that are located many thousands of kilometres from the region. We also do not see any added value in raising the subject of Myanmar here in the Security Council. The problem of the return of the Rohingya refugees should be resolved through bilateral consultations between the parties involved. We welcome the mediating role played by ASEAN and China in resolving the situation in Myanmar. We note the fact that ASEAN recently conducted an assessment mission on the needs of refugees. We believe that the people of a region always have all of the information they need about the state of affairs on the ground and are best aware of the regional specifics. In January, Hanoi became the President of ASEAN. We share Viet Nam’s priorities in the Association, including the focus on increasing its contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. We are convinced that our partners and ASEAN have all the necessary experience, the tools they need and the requisite goodwill. We stand ready to support and develop our cooperation.

We thank the Secretary-General, His Excellency António Guterres, and His Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi for the important information they have provided today. No region is immune to the increasing large-scale challenges that we are currently facing. Inequality, social tension, conflict and vulnerability to disasters and climate shocks are among the most pressing challenges, with very unfavourable repercussions for civilians and the achievement of an inclusive sustainable development that leads to peace. Hence there is an increasingly urgent need to seek solutions to these common challenges. Multilateralism and international cooperation play a decisive role in this process. We acknowledge the fundamental role of the United Nations as a catalyst for solutions that meet the specific needs of each context. Therefore, close cooperation with regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) make possible a stronger and more effective multilateral international system based on diversity, mutual cooperation and shared international principles. We are pleased to see such cooperation taking the form of tangible initiatives to bring about peace, development and human security. An example is the contributions made by thousands of ASEAN personnel to peacekeeping operations, which include an increasing number of women. As we have noted, climate change is one of the main conflict multipliers of our times and has a major impact on that region of the world, where four of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are located. Our own region, the Caribbean, is also affected by that reality, and we can therefore identify with the efforts being deployed by ASEAN to build local capacities in the areas of the mitigation of, preparation for and response to natural disasters, particularly in urban areas. ASEAN-United Nations cooperation in building more resilient communities is an important example of multinational cooperation in that area. Given the climate crisis, there is a need to continue fostering complementary regional and multilateral strategies to avert greater adverse effects. Joint action is the only way to do so. Another important area of cooperation is the signing of the memorandum of understanding between ASEAN and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the ASEAN-FAO agriculture programme. Both of these initiatives are aimed at promoting a more resistant, sustainable and inclusive food sector. We also stress the work being done in sensitive areas such as respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and children. ASEAN’s initiatives to promote the women and peace and security agenda by providing an increasing number of women peacekeepers should be highlighted and replicated. We also wish to underline the technical support provided by the United Nations to ASEAN strategies to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism, with the participation of women, young people and civil society. We wish to acknowledge ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance and cooperation in the repatriation process of Rohingya refugees. We reiterate our call for such regional actions to be replicated to benefit those people, who have already suffered enough, and for the ASEAN- United Nations leaderships to join forces to bring an end to the crisis. Although Myanmar’s primary responsibility to resolve this serious situation is clear, we as a region and the international community as a whole have the duty to continue working to ensure a climate of dialogue and cooperation that will allow for the safe, voluntary and dignified of Rohingya refugees to their territory. We are hopeful that this comprehensive partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations will continue to strengthen and remain firmly committed to implementing shared strategies for peace that are inclusive and people-centred. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your delegation, Mr. President, for its excellent work at the helm of the Council for this month of January.

I am grateful to Secretaries-General Guterres and Dato Lim Jock Hoi for their briefings. The United Kingdom has a strong and long- standing relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have been party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia since 2012, and just last year we appointed our first dedicated ambassador to ASEAN, John Lambe. We work together closely on issues that matter to our mutual peace and security. The United Kingdom is an ASEANAPOL dialogue partner. We second United Kingdom staff to work on humanitarian assistance at the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and on cybersecurity at the ASEAN Cyber Centre. We have bilateral defence relationships with nearly every ASEAN member, and the Royal Navy has maintained an almost unbroken presence in the region for the last two years. That is say nothing about our wider people-to- people links, partnerships on trade and investment, development, science and innovation. Since ASEAN’s establishment, the organization has played a key role in maintaining peace and security in South-East Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. But ASEAN also makes a tangible and valuable contribution to global peace and security. I want to touch on three areas of particular relevance to the Council’s work, namely, peacekeeping; women, peace and security; and, of course, climate change. On peacekeeping, we welcome the fact that ASEAN States contribute 5,000 peacekeepers currently serving in United Nations peace operations and that they have all endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. We hope to work together more on future training partnerships, including through the A4P light coordination mechanism, to further develop peacekeepers’ critical capabilities and implement all eight pillars of the A4P. Concerning women, peace and security, we welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry and ASEAN member States’ efforts to ensure that women are at the negotiating tables during peace processes. At the nexus of those two issues  — women in peacekeeping  — we welcome in particular the commitment of Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marsudi to pursue reforms of national and United Nations policies that will increase the number of women in peacekeeping and strengthen their role. With regard to climate change, ASEAN States recognize that climate change increasingly poses threats to our individual and collective security. The United Kingdom and Italy, as the Chairs of the twenty- sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow later this year, are looking forward to working with ASEAN partners to secure ambitious COP26 outcomes and to accelerate actions to reduce emissions, protect our environment and adapt to the consequences of climate change. I want to touch briefly on three specific issues facing ASEAN and its wider neighbourhood, namely, Myanmar, the South China Sea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. On Myanmar, the Council will soon discuss the accountability issue further, following the International Court of Justice order and the report of Myanmar’s own independent commission of inquiry last week. For now, I reiterate that the United Kingdom encourages Myanmar to comply with the Court’s legally-binding provisional measures and to implement the commission’s recommendations. More broadly, the United Kingdom welcomes ASEAN’s continued engagement on the Rohingya crisis, and we encourage ASEAN to focus on overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State to help create conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya and build trust between Myanmar and the refugees in Cox’s Bazar. We urge the AHA Centre to work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Rakhine and hope that there will be other opportunities for the Council and ASEAN to engage on how we make progress towards a lasting resolution to that crisis. Regarding the South China Sea, we call on all coastal States to take steps that reduce tensions and support maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability and safety in the region. We welcome ongoing negotiations between ASEAN members and China to achieve a rules-based, cooperative and effective code of conduct in the South China Sea that is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We underline the importance of States complying with their international law obligations, particularly UNCLOS. Finally, on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, we are concerned at Kim Jong Un’s recent declaration that he no longer feels bound by the moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The international community, including ASEAN, must remain united on the need for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to return to negotiations with the United States and must continue upholding United Nations sanctions agreed by the Council on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea until that country delivers concrete steps towards de-nuclearization. In conclusion, ASEAN is a dynamic, growing region. Economically, it has been predicted that ASEAN will become collectively the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030. It is our hope that by 2030, ASEAN economic might and potential will be matched also by its contribution to regional and global peace and security. The United Kingdom, for our part, stands ready to work towards that goal in partnership.

I thank the Secretary- General for his excellent overview. I warmly welcome the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and thank him for his comprehensive briefing on cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations. Let me also congratulate Viet Nam on assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN this year. ASEAN has played a significant role in providing peace and enhancing security in the South-East Asia region and globally for 52 years. We support ASEAN’s commitment to promoting peace and security in the wider Asia-Pacific region, as well as to resolving disputes peacefully, which includes full respect for legal and diplomatic processes. Further, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, we support deepening United Nations cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in order to ensure more effective conflict prevention and mitigation. We acknowledge ASEAN’s commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order. Today’s challenges are global in scope and nature and must be tackled jointly. Multilateral cooperation is key to contributing to the regional peace and security. We commend ASEAN’s work on addressing emerging non-traditional security issues, such as climate change. As climate change is the most serious challenge in the near future, we need to accelerate that work. We recognize ASEAN’s interest in promoting cybersecurity and welcome the important steps that it has taken to build a rules-based cyberspace, including the implementation of the 11 voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour contained in the 2015 report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/70/174). Global digital cooperation is needed to address the emerging non-traditional, cross- sectoral threats to peace and security, and we welcome ASEAN’s efforts to enhance cooperation with the relevant United Nations bodies to combat the threats that emerge from cyberspace. We welcome the efforts of ASEAN member States to advance discussions with China on a code of conduct on the South China Sea. We encourage both parties, ASEAN and China, to implement the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety. We count on ASEAN to play an active role in settling international disputes through peaceful means and in providing necessary support to its member States to address the root causes of crises. We note the recent order of the International Court of Justice indicating provisional measures for the protection of the Rohingya in Myanmar. We expect Myanmar to duly comply with the Court’s order and report back on measures taken within the timeline indicated by the Court. In conclusion, we express our support for ASEAN Community Vision 2025: Forging Ahead Together. We think that cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN could be further strengthened to maintain peace and security and accelerate prosperity for the 650 million people in the region.

At the outset, I would like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi for their briefings. I welcome my old friend, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, to New York. China supports the United Nations in deepening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, with a view to consolidating and strengthening collective security mechanisms and jointly safeguarding international peace and security. In the 53 years since its founding, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has worked in earnest to advance regional economic integration. It has also worked hard to build a regional cooperation architecture with ASEAN at its centre. At present, the ASEAN region is, on the whole, peaceful and prosperous. ASEAN and the ASEAN-centred East Asian regional cooperation platform have played an important role in that. The relationship between the United Nations and ASEAN has grown increasingly closer in recent years, with ever-improving cooperation mechanisms and expanding areas of cooperation. China highly commends that relationship. With regard to bolstering cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN, China would like to make some proposals. First, we should firmly defend multilateralism together. At present unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and factors of instability and uncertainty are multiplying, dealing heavy blows to the international order and the global governance system. That makes it even more important and pressing to strengthen multilateralism. The United Nations and ASEAN should work together to defend multilateralism in regional and international affairs; unswervingly safeguard the international system — with the United Nations at its core — and the international order, based on international law; support ASEAN in its continued adherence to the ASEAN Way, characterized by mutual respect, consensus and accommodation to the comfort level of all parties; and make a positive contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. Secondly, it is important to respect the leadership and role of regional organizations and countries of a region when it comes to regional affairs. Because of geographic, historical and cultural factors, regional organizations and countries of a region have unique advantages in handling hotspot issues in the region concerned. The international community should fully respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned and encourage regional and subregional organizations and countries of the region concerned to play a leading role in mediation. ASEAN members have been gravely affected by terrorism and violent extremism. It is therefore necessary to consider the regional counter-terrorism situation and provide strong support and cooperation to ASEAN members in their counter-terrorism efforts, with a view to implementing the Council’s counter- terrorism resolutions and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as to join efforts to combat terrorist financing, drug trafficking and transnational crime. China applauds the important contributions of ASEAN members to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Thirdly, we should boost economic and social development and connectivity in order to promote peace through development. All ASEAN member States are developing countries. As such, accelerating their development is a primary task and a fundamental strategy to tackle regional risks and challenges. The United Nations should further leverage its own mechanisms and advantages in resources and capacity, step up coordination with ASEAN and lend greater assistance to its members in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to help narrow regional development gaps and promote youth employment and social stability. Connectivity is an important foundation for the interlinked and integrated development of the region. In the interest of greater synergy, we support stronger alignment between the regional connectivity initiative and the national development strategies of the ASEAN countries. As a good neighbour and partner to ASEAN member countries, China attaches great importance to developing its relations with ASEAN. China is the first dialogue partner to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the first country to publicly express its willingness to sign the protocol to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with ASEAN. China has been an active supporter of ASEAN’s centrality in regional affairs, guided by the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, and through mechanisms and platforms such as the 10+1 and 10+3 frameworks and the East Asia Summit. We have deepened cooperation with ASEAN member countries, built mutual political trust, jointly pursued the Belt and Road Initiative and helped maintain regional prosperity and stability. The China-ASEAN relationship has become a pacesetter for East Asian regional cooperation. China stands ready to work with all countries to bolster the Organization’s cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, including ASEAN, staunchly support multilateralism and join hands in building a community of shared future for humankind. My statement was supposed to end here, but in the light of statements delivered earlier, allow me to speak for another hour. The focus of this meeting is cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN. We should not be discussing Myanmar here. Unfortunately, some countries have used this meeting to pressure Myanmar. China therefore feels it necessary to state its position on this issue. China pays close attention to the Rakhine state issue in Myanmar. We have been actively working with Myanmar and Bangladesh and encourage them to resolve their issues through dialogue and consultation. So far, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh have had three informal meetings with their foreign ministers, all of which registered progress and produced important consensus. ASEAN has played an important role in facilitating Myanmar-Bangladesh dialogue, building mutual trust and improving the humanitarian situation for the people in Rakhine state. China commends ASEAN and supports its continued efforts along those lines. Lately — thanks to the joint efforts of the countries concerned, the countries of the region, China and ASEAN — Myanmar and Bangladesh have had good interactions, Myanmar has taken a series of positive measures, and progress has been made in resolving the Rakhine issue. The situation on the ground has continued to improve. The international community should cherish the hard-won momentum, help promote bilateral dialogue and consultation between Myanmar and Bangladesh, encourage them to expedite the repatriation of the people who have fled from chaos and work to create a sound external environment. The Council should play an active and constructive role in those efforts by providing the necessary support and assistance to the countries concerned. Excessive pressure would only be counterproductive. China takes note of the International Court of Justice’s interim decision on Myanmar and the Government of Myanmar’s response, as well as the report recently submitted by the Independent Commission of Enquiry. The Rakhine issue has very complex historical, ethnic and religious components. China supports Myanmar and Bangladesh in their continued efforts to properly resolve the relevant issues through negotiation. The international community should play a constructive role in that regard. China also supports the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar in her ongoing efforts. In their statements today, some representatives made reference to the South China Sea issue. The United States representative made unfounded accusations against China, which my country firmly rejects. It should be noted that the United Nations is not the right forum for the discussion of the South China Sea issue, nor should that issue be addressed in the Security Council. At present, the situation in the South China Sea is largely stable and improving. Specific disputes are being resolved by the countries directly concerned through negotiation and consultation. On the other hand, China and ASEAN members are jointly committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. Facts have shown that this dual-track approach is the proper way to resolve the South China Sea issue. Regrettably, this process has suffered from the constant disruption and sabotage of some countries external to the region, such as the United States. China has always respected and supported the navigational and overflight freedom enjoyed by the States in the South China Sea under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Even as they enjoy those freedoms, States should fully respect the sovereignty and security interests of coastal States. China firmly opposes the attempts of any country to infringe upon its sovereignty and security interests in the name of freedom of navigation. In fact, there has never been any issue with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. What is really worrying is the fact that some countries, such as the United States, under the pretext of freedom of navigation, sent military ships and aeroplanes to the South China Sea to demonstrate their strength. That is an act of provocation and threat to coastal States. That represents the greatest risk to security in the South China Sea and should be resolutely condemned by all States. As a firm defender of regional peace and security, China has always pursued a defence policy that is defensive in nature. Under international law, it is the legitimate right of a sovereign State to deploy defence facilities on its own territory. The United States has repeatedly accused China of militarization in the South China Sea. However, it is the United States that has hundreds of military bases across the world and has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops outside its own territory. The United States asks other countries to comply with international law but it has not even acceded to UNCLOS. Moreover, it has withdrawn from international agreements and mechanisms one after the other. The United States talks here about peace and stability in the South China Sea, but it has stirred up all kinds of disputes in many parts of the world, becoming a source of turbulence in the world. How can such a country be in a position to accuse others anywhere? On what grounds? I can tell the representative of the United States that the label of militarization is not the right one for China but could make a more appropriate one for the United States. Just now, some representatives referred to the South China Sea arbitration case. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that the Chinese Government has solemnly declared that the South China Sea arbitration award is null and void and has no binding force. China did not accept or participate in the arbitration. China neither accepts nor recognizes the award. Just now, the issue of the Korean peninsula was mentioned by some representatives in their statements. I wish to take this opportunity to say that in order to push the parties concerned to resume dialogue on the Korean peninsula issue and settle their disputes by peaceful means, China and the Russian Federation proposed not long ago a draft resolution on strengthening the political settlement of the Korean peninsula issue. The draft resolution is still on the Council’s table. We have organized several rounds of consultations. We will keep an open mind and hope that everyone can put forward constructive ideas. Let us work together to create a good environment for making contributions to easing the situation on the Korean peninsula, pushing the parties concerned to resume dialogue, resolving differences through dialogue and achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and its long-term peace and stability.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Viet Nam. Viet Nam would like to extend its appreciation to His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and His Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for their presence and profound insights into cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN. The importance of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations has been recognized since the founding of the United Nations, as set out in Chapter VIII of its Charter. We express our strong support for deepening such cooperation and are pleased to see substantial progress in collaboration between the United Nations and ASEAN. For the United Nations, ASEAN is a very important, active and reliable partner, with outstanding achievements in the fields of peace and security. If the United Nations marks its success in saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, ASEAN is recognized for its success in turning Southeast Asia into a region of friendship and cooperation and its crucial role in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and beyond. We believe that ASEAN, with its commitment, efforts and experiences over more than five decades, could make a greater contribution to the work of the United Nations. Founded on shared values, the United Nations and ASEAN have been working closely to promote multilateralism and to uphold the principles of international law. From the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN’s long experiences in shaping and communicating norms should be shared to help inspire and reinforce peaceful and friendly relations in various corners of the world. The establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the first community in Asia, is a powerful example of how to work in unity and harmony and of how to work together in the face of common challenges and in pursuit of common interests. Engagement with external partners through ASEAN-initiated mechanisms is another prominent success of ASEAN as a testimony to the values of genuine dialogue, mutual understanding and respect. Mechanisms such as ASEAN plus 1, ASEAN plus 3, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus, with ASEAN playing the central role, have served as avenues for consultation and cooperation and created a conducive environment for all parties concerned to build trust and confidence, strengthen preventive diplomacy, navigate differences and engage in issues of common concern. Those mechanisms, with the passage of time, have instilled a culture of peace as a force for harmony, peace and stability in the region and beyond. Such ASEAN success stories could complement the efforts of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. That said, we welcome the 2011 Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations and the subsequent adoption of the Plan of Action to Implement the Declaration for the period 2016-2020. The fact that more than 90 per cent of the Plan of Action has been implemented reflects the unwavering commitments of both the United Nations and ASEAN to advancing cooperation, both in scope and in depth. The convergence between the United Nations and ASEAN has gained greater relevance in today’s context of the complex and growing challenges that we face — from terrorism to transnational crimes, from human trafficking to people smuggling and from cybersecurity to climate change. No country is immune to and no region is insulated from such challenges, which necessitate more effective collaboration between the United Nations and ASEAN under various forms, including capacity-building activities, dialogue, exchange of information and sharing of expertise, experiences, lesson learned and good practices. It is necessary to emphasize the importance of, and continued support for, the centrality of ASEAN in the regional architecture and the central role of the United Nations in the global multilateral system. It is necessary to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN in the various areas agreed upon, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, preventive diplomacy, disarmament and non-proliferation, maritime cooperation, maritime security and disaster management, as well as to explore other potential areas of cooperation, taking into account that both sides are embarking on developing a new plan of action for the next five years. It is necessary to render greater support and assistance in order for the United Nations and ASEAN to successfully implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. In that regard, Viet Nam, as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the Security Council, is committed to pursuing a more fruitful partnership between the United Nations and ASEAN and calls on the support of the Council to achieve our three priorities in 2020. First, we must enhance the efficient and effective participation of ASEAN member States in peacekeeping operations. We therefore deeply appreciate the triangular partnership projects and look forward to further cooperation in the areas of capacity-building, equipment and gender mainstreaming. Secondly, we need to promote the women and peace and security agenda at the regional and national levels by strengthening the participation and contribution of ASEAN women. As the twentieth anniversary of the women and peace and security agenda is approaching, the Government of Viet Nam plans to host a global event with a focus on the role of women in building and sustaining peace. Thirdly, we must focus on implementing the Complementarities Roadmap 2020-2025 between the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. In that regard, we propose the convening of a high-level dialogue between the United Nations and ASEAN on sustainable development on the occasion of the United Nations-ASEAN summit, to be held in Viet Nam later this year. Today’s meeting will help bring ASEAN closer to the United Nations and bring the United Nations closer to ASEAN. We hope that the momentum created today will be carried into the future to forge a more robust cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.