Prime Minister Mark Brown says one of the key reasons they are at the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit is to foster a new relationship, strengthen cooperation and nurture a partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum and ASEAN- that will drive development and growth in the region.

Speaking at the 18th East Asia Summit he highlighted the significance of the Pacific region and addressed critical issues facing the Blue Pacific.

PM Brown, also the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, joined fellow Leaders from the ASEAN and New Zealand, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States at the summit in Jakarta saying regional stability is a collective strength that must be treasured and nurtured.

“Together we can achieve robust and responsive economic strategies that will ensure resilience and foster economic prosperity.”

Brown said that as leaders they are acutely aware of the opportunities and limitations of both national and regional mechanisms.

“On most matters it is fair to say that we defer to national systems or mechanisms. The few issues that remain however represent the most critical collective issues that we face as a region. Climate change, the health of our oceans, our environment, eco development and regional security and peace to name a few.

“Indeed over the years we have seen the Pacific regional architecture grow to respond to the collective interests and needs of our region. We have committed to strengthening our regional architecture to deliver the vision of our leaders as articulated through the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

“Our long term vision is for a resilient pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity that ensures all Pacific peoples that live free, healthy and productive lives.”

He said that in the last three years the Forum has been the subject of significant ongoing reforms and transformation to ensure that the regional architecture is fit for purpose.

“Indeed the review of the regional architecture has the potential to redefine how we as a collective; advocate, engage and achieve political settlements. Indeed the effectiveness of regionalism is dependent on political will, our shared commitment to it and the partnerships we forge to achieve common goals.”

Speaking to the theme Strengthening Regional Architecture to Support the Epicentrum of Growth, Brown said: ““In the Pacific we don’t have to look far to pinpoint the epicentrum of our growth –it is the Blue Pacific Ocean. It is from our Ocean that we derive our history – our connection to each other – our culture – our livelihoods – our being as Pacific peoples. As large oceanic states, we are custodians of nearly 20 percent of the earth’s surface, and we place great cultural and spiritual value on our ocean and land, as our common heritage.”

He acknowledged the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which exacerbated vulnerabilities in island economies and emphasized the need for economic resilience and partnerships to strengthen economic strategies to ensure resilience in the face of future shocks, The Forum Secretariat reported.

“In fact, this is one of the key reasons why we are here today at this 43rd ASEAN Summit – to foster a new relationship, to strengthen cooperation and to nurture a partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum and ASEAN that will drive development and growth in our regions”.

Meanwhile, PM Brown, supported by Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) Tepaeru Herrmann, met with Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh in the margins of the Summit.

MFAI said the group discussed areas to further promote relations in education, people-to-people links, agriculture, and fisheries.

According to EIN Presswire, the two prime ministers spoke highly of the signing of the Joint Communiqué to establish diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Cook Islands on April 26, 2022, saying it has opened up numerous opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various promising areas.  

It was reported that they believed that with determination and political trust, the bilateral ties will further grow, particularly in the economy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and in addressing climate change and rising sea levels.

Brown also met with President of the Republic of Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr and discussed increased cooperation in people-to-people links and exchanged learnings on the challenges of climate change.

He acknowledged the Filipino community in the Cook Islands and expressing appreciation for their contribution to Cook Island's economic prosperity.