ASEAN adopts “Outlook on the Indo-Pacific”

According to the document, the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions are amongst the most dynamic in the world as well as centers of economic growth for decades. 

The leaders believe that Southeast Asia lies in the center of these dynamic regions and is a very important conduit and portal to the same. Therefore, it is in the interest of ASEAN to lead the shaping of their economic and security architecture and ensure that such dynamics will continue to bring about peace, security, stability and prosperity for the peoples in the Southeast Asia as well as in the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions or the Indo-Pacific.

This Outlook is not aimed at creating new mechanisms or replacing existing ones; rather, it is an Outlook intended to enhance ASEAN’s Community building process and to strengthen and give new momentum for existing ASEAN-led mechanisms to better face challenges and seize opportunities arising from the current and future regional and global environments.

Moreover, the Outlook is intended to be inclusive in terms of ideas and proposals.

The Outlook, envisioned by ASEAN, consists of the four key elements: (i) A perspective of viewing the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, not as contiguous territorial spaces but as a closely integrated and interconnected region, with ASEAN playing a central and strategic role; (ii) An Indo–Pacific region of dialogue and cooperation instead of rivalry; (iii) An Indo-Pacific region of development and prosperity for all; (iv)The importance of the maritime domain and perspective in the evolving regional architecture.

In order to realize the key elements of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN will undertake cooperation in a broad range of areas, including: Maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development goals through 2030, economic and other possible areas of cooperation.

The document provides a guide for ASEAN’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

By Huong Giang