ASEAN – Telephone conversation between Jean-Yves Le Drian and the secretary general of ASEAN (27 July 2021)

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Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke by phone today with Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN.

The minister reiterated his support for ASEAN in its efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Myanmar, in accordance with the wishes of the people of Myanmar. He reaffirmed the commitment of France and the EU, which adopted a third round of sanctions on June 21, and discussed with his interlocutor the process of implementing the five-point consensus agreed upon by ASEAN.

Jean-Yves Le Drian underscored the importance France attaches to the central role of ASEAN in its strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. The minister and the secretary general reaffirmed their convergence of views on the need to ensure an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and to promote multilateralism there. The minister reaffirmed that the implementation of the European strategy for the Indo-Pacific region will be one of the priorities of the French presidency of the European Union in 2022.

The minister expressed France’s willingness to engage even more with ASEAN under the development partnership launched in March 2022, and within the working groups of the expanded ASEAN ministerial meeting in which France is a candidate for membership.

The minister and the secretary general discussed the health situation in Southeast Asia and the substantial material support provided by France and the EU to the countries concerned.