ASEAN Designates Germany, Qatar as Sectoral Dialogue Partners
Manila (ANTARA) - ASEAN foreign ministers have approved granting Sectoral Dialogue Partner status to Germany and Qatar, as well as admitting Türkiye as the 12th Dialogue Partner, at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM).
The Chair of the 59th AMM, who is also Philippine Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa Lazaro, said the decision reflects growing international partners’ confidence in ASEAN and a desire to engage more deeply with the international community.
“These developments demonstrate partners’ continued confidence in ASEAN. We also view them as a positive step towards realising the aspirations of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045,” said Lazaro, as quoted from the official ASEAN 2026 website on Tuesday.
According to Lazaro, Germany obtained Sectoral Dialogue Partner status in recognition of its long-standing support for ASEAN and its commitment to strengthening the development of the ASEAN Community.
Meanwhile, Qatar was granted the same status owing to its steadily expanding cooperation with ASEAN in the fields of diplomacy, development, humanitarian assistance, education and connectivity, as well as its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
During the plenary session, the ASEAN foreign ministers also expressed full support for the 50th anniversary of the TAC on 24 July.
On that occasion, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Lithuania were scheduled to officially join the treaty.
In addition, ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on developments in the Middle East, as well as the Guidelines on the ASEAN Engagement Mechanism with parties to the TAC.
Lazaro said the statement on the Middle East was agreed following escalating conflict in the region, particularly between the United States and Iran.
According to her, the statement, proposed by the Philippines as ASEAN Chair, aims to strengthen ASEAN’s common position in maintaining regional peace and stability.
Meanwhile, the guidelines on engagement with TAC parties will serve as a new framework for practical cooperation between ASEAN and the treaty’s participating countries, and are expected to support regional development, economic growth, and the strengthening of political, economic and socio-cultural ties.
The series of 59th AMM meetings will continue this week with sessions between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, the ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), as well as the commemoration of the TAC’s 50th anniversary.