From July 21 to 27, Vientiane, the capital of Laos, hosted the 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related gatherings.

Over an intense week, 25 ministerial meetings took place, including core ASEAN discussions and dialogues with 11 partner nations. The attendance of representatives from over 30 countries emphasized ASEAN's role as a crucial platform for multilateral engagement. Committed to regional cooperation and collaborative problem-solving, the meetings produced 29 documents, including a joint communique and agreements made between ASEAN and its partners.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the outcomes in Vientiane will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of both ASEAN and East Asian cooperation.

Beyond the region

ASEAN consists of 10 member countries, altogether home to 670 million people. The AMM and related gatherings help integrate the region with the wider global community.

"Southeast Asia is a special region, characterized by diverse political systems, cultures and religions, different stages of economic development, and complex security challenges. Therefore, the role of ASEAN in shaping regional dynamics is critical," Alland Dharmawan, a personal assistant to the Advisor to the President at the Indonesian Presidential Advisory Council, told Beijing Review.

Themed on ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience, the 57th AMM underscored the organization's commitment to fostering regional development and stability. The joint communique highlighted key priorities: promoting infrastructure connectivity, reducing developmental disparities, boosting economic integration, fostering interpersonal exchanges, and enhancing institutional capacity and effectiveness. It also emphasized peaceful dispute resolution.

"This intergovernmental organization always puts emphasis on consensus-building and non-interference approaches, which has allowed it to maintain unity among its diverse members, even when faced with diverse national interests and external pressures," Dharmawan said.

Peace and cooperation

This year's AMM centered on a comprehensive agenda, addressing nine critical issues ranging from air pollution control to climate change mitigation. At the heart of these discussions lies a shared commitment to peace and cooperation, reflecting the collective aspirations of ASEAN nations.

According to a report from Malaysia's national news agency Bernama on July 26, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced that Malaysia, in its role as country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, would redouble its efforts to bring the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, a proposed code to manage tensions in the disputed waterway, to conclusion.

China and ASEAN countries kicked off COC negotiations in 2013. They had started the third reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced in October 2023.

Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, emphasized in an interview with Chinese news portal Shangguan News on July 21 that negotiations over the COC are at a critical stage, and progress needs to be made toward finalizing it.

ASEAN's pursuit of a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia remains a priority, with China expressing readiness to sign the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. However, the stance of the United States, one of five recognized nuclear powers in the world, remains ambiguous.

China's commitment to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone represents a momentous step toward regional denuclearization. This proactive stance stands in opposition to the evolving U.S. nuclear policy. Under the AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, the United States and the United Kingdom will assist Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. Xu emphasized the need for robust control mechanisms to prevent the potential misuse of nuclear energy.

In terms of cooperation, discussions focused on connectivity and digital transformation. Xu emphasized that connectivity is crucial to the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, a roadmap for unity and improved wellbeing in the region. It encompasses not just physical connections but also political-security and economic ties, and socio-cultural cooperation, according to Xu.

He stressed that digital transformation is a pressing issue for ASEAN countries, particularly their small and medium-size enterprises. China's partnership with ASEAN in the digital economy has become a new area with great growth potential, with both sides committed to mutual cooperation in emerging sectors.

The ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting highlighted the flourishing bilateral partnership. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi outlined achievements in bilateral cooperation at the meeting on July 26, encompassing strengthened economic ties, rebounding cultural exchanges and deepening connectivity. China has maintained its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with two-way investments surpassing $380 billion in 2023. The resumption of direct flights to near pre-pandemic levels and the success of major infrastructure projects like the China-Laos Railway underscore this deepening integration.

Notably, ASEAN has become a focal point for Chinese automotive investment, with Chinese brands dominating the region's electric vehicle (EV) market. In 2023, Chinese brands accounted for 67 percent of EV sales in ASEAN countries. These developments reflect the ongoing evolution of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, bringing mutual economic benefits and contributing to regional stability.

Strategic autonomy

In the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang reaffirmed China's steadfast support for ASEAN's strategic autonomy. His statement reflects China's enduring principles in global governance and its strategic approach to the Asia-Pacific region.

China's backing of ASEAN's strategic autonomy aligns with its vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, particularly relevant in China-ASEAN relations. China advocates for harmony and coexistence, contrasting with the United States' historically binary approach in Southeast Asia, which has often sought to create divisions within ASEAN to serve its geopolitical interests.

Some ASEAN countries were severely affected by the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-98. The ASEAN-led East Asia cooperation mechanism was established at the end of 1997 to promote regional governance within East Asia. Over the last nearly three decades, this framework has been gaining wide international endorsement.

"Wang Yi's reaffirmation of China's support for ASEAN's strategic autonomy is significant. It reflects China's position in acknowledging the importance of the organization's independent

decision-making in promoting regional stability and cooperation," Dharmawan said.

"ASEAN has always hoped to maintain a balance with major external powers, such as the United States and China, and to avoid the region being drawn into rivalries between the great powers. ASEAN always puts forward dialogue and cooperation and hopes to foster good relationships with all external stakeholders," he added. 

(Print edition title; Vientiane Diplomacy)

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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