Thailand Conducts Discussions on ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus Regarding Myanmar
Click to start listening
Bangkok, Dec 21 (NationPress) Officials representing the member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered for an informal consultation in the Thai capital, Bangkok, to deliberate on the application of the Five-Point Consensus regarding the conditions in Myanmar.
The extended informal consultation session, which took place on Friday, was organized by Thailand to support Laos' ASEAN chairmanship, and reaffirmed that the Five-Point Consensus continues to be the key reference for the bloc's initiatives to tackle Myanmar's ongoing political turmoil, according to Thai Foreign Ministry representative Bolbongse Vangphaen.
In a briefing following the meeting, Bolbongse underscored the urgency of intensifying efforts to discover strategies aligned with the Five-Point Consensus and the decision made by ASEAN leaders to strive for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Myanmar.
The discussions underscored the significance of addressing the rising transnational crimes and cross-border challenges stemming from Myanmar's instability, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“All members concurred that a peaceful, stable, and unified Myanmar serves the best interests of the entire region,” Bolbongse remarked.
Bolbongse highlighted that the meeting represented a vital step in facilitating a seamless transition of ASEAN's chairmanship to Malaysia, as the bloc is prepared to assist Malaysia in effectively executing the Five-Point Consensus in the upcoming year.
Foreign ministers from Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand took part in the extended informal dialogue alongside high-level representatives from the remaining four ASEAN nations.
As agreed during the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in 2021, the Five-Point Consensus was formulated to address Myanmar's political crisis and foster regional peace and stability.
Myanmar has been embroiled in political chaos since the military ousted the democratically elected government in February 2021.
This coup incited widespread protests, evolving into a significant anti-junta movement, especially in areas populated by ethnic minorities. Those opposing the military regime have established coalitions involving ethnic groups and civilian-led defense forces.
