GENERAL STATEMENT AFTER ACTION BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, DELEGATE TO THE 73RD SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON AGENDA ITEM 80, ON THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW ON THE WORK OF ITS FIFTY-FIRST SESSION, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 20 DECEMBER 2018

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)[1] to introduce the draft resolution contained in document A/RES/73/L.71 , entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations” under the agenda item 128 (q).

Mr President,

2                 I would like to make three points. 

3                 First, the establishment of ASEAN fifty-one years ago was an exercise to deepen regional integration and economic cooperation. Thanks to ASEAN, a region once marked by confrontation and conflict has been transformed into a region that operates on the basis of consultation and consensus.  ASEAN has played an indispensable role in bringing peace, prosperity and growth to Southeast Asia.  Today, our combined population stands at 630 million people.  60 percent of that population is under 35 years old.  ASEAN is forecast to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by the year 2030. 

4                 ASEAN has tremendous potential as a regional organization.  To maximise the potential, ASEAN is redoubling efforts towards economic integration, deepening cooperation to address security threats and implementing innovative ideas to bring our cities and peoples closer together.  For example, we launched the ASEAN Smart Cities Network this year, a collaborative platform to synergise the development of smart cities across ASEAN, and to create innovative urban solutions that will bring tangible improvements to our peoples’ lives.  

5                 Second, ASEAN’s efforts at regional integration have been complemented and amplified by the international community.  ASEAN’s rapid transformation could not have been effected without the support of the international community, particularly our ten Dialogue Partners.  ASEAN recognizes that closer collaboration with our external partners is necessary to tackle the challenges in an increasingly interdependent and interconnected world.  On our part, the ASEAN Member States will continue to build strategic trust and mutual confidence through open lines of communication, to maintain an open, inclusive and ASEAN-centric regional architecture. 

6                 Third, the relationship between ASEAN and the United Nations is mutually reinforcing.  The United Nations provides the multilateral rules-based framework that allows regional organisations like ASEAN to flourish.  At the same time, ASEAN contributes to global peace and security and sustainable development by strengthening habits of cooperation and respect for international law at the regional level.  Today, ASEAN stands united as a regional organization that is committed to the promotion and protection of international law and the strengthening of the rules-based multilateral system.  Most recently, ASEAN Leaders reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism and close cooperation with the United Nations during the meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October 2018. 

7                 ASEAN has presented the draft resolution today to welcome the expanding relationship and deepening partnership with the United Nations.  Since ASEAN first presented the biennial resolution in the year 2002, the relationship between ASEAN and the United Nations has advanced significantly.  We have updated the resolution to reflect the progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action between ASEAN and the United Nations, including areas such as peacekeeping operations, cybersecurity and disaster management.  The resolution is simple, straightforward and not contentious.  I take this opportunity to thank all delegations for their constructive participation in the informal consultations and also for their flexible and pragmatic approach, which enabled ASEAN to produce a text that is balanced and substantive.  We request all Member States to kindly lend their continued support to the draft resolution by adopting it by consensus. 

8                 I thank you, Mr President.

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_{[1] Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.}