‘ Partnering for change, engaging the world’

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT OF THE 31ST ASEAN SUMMIT PHILIPPINES, CHAIRMAN, 2017

We were pleased with the multitude of cultural events that have been anniversary of ASEAN which promote people-to-people exchanges and inter-cultural dialogue. We appreciated the high visibility of cultural events such as the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts and the ASEAN Young Contemporary Music Concert that were organized by the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN COCI) and those that were organized at the national level throughout 2017.

83. We reaffirmed our shared values of tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for life as enshrined in ASEAN Community Vi the ASEAN Declaration on ‘Culture of Prevention’ for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society. We noted that the ‘Culture of Prevention’ represented a paradigm shift in the way ASEAN addresses the pressing challenges through socio- cultural means at their root causes. We emphasized that the cross-cutting nature of the ‘Culture of Prevention’ will enhance the preventive aspects pertaining to the mandates of ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, especially by the education, culture, information, youth, women and migrants’ sectors.

Building Resiliency in ASEAN

84. We reiterated our full support for the operationalization of the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region and welcomed new initiatives of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) including the convening the 1st Inter- Ministerial Dialogue on Disaster Management (IMDDM) in 2018 in Malaysia which will ensure policy cohesion and enhance cross- sectoral and cross- pillar coordination in operationalizing the Declaration on One ASEAN One Response as mandated by the 23rd ASEAN Summit in October 2013 in Bandar Seri Begawan. In this connection, we encouraged ASEAN’s active participation in the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2018, the Regional Organizations Humanitarian Action Network (ROHAN) and the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2019.

- ments of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management in the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Program 20162020 as well as the Governing Board of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Center) in overseeing and guiding the operationalization of the AHA Center.

86. We recognized the important role of the AHA Center in operationalizing the One ASEAN One Response Declaration and extended appreciation for the prompt response in the delivery of relief items for the Northern Vietnam and the displaced communities in Marawi City, the Philippines.

87. With regard to the role of the AHA Center and the Northern Rakh- ine state in Myanmar, a number of Leaders expressed support to Myanmar’s humanitarian relief program and welcomed the launch of the Myanmar government-led mechanism in cooperation with the Red Cross Movement and the assistance from the international community in these endeavors. They underscored the importance of increased humanitarian access to the affected areas and that assistance be given to all affected communities. They further urged Myanmar to continue to implement report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State and welcomed Myanmar’s establishment of a ministerial committee for this purpose. They welcomed the commitment by Myanmar authorities to ensure the safety of civilians, take immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, restore normal socio-economic conditions, and address the refugee They expressed support to the Myanmar government in its efforts to bring peace, stability, rule of law and to promote harmony and reconciliation between the various communities, as well as sustainable and equitable development in Rakhine state.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD)

88. We noted the robust cooperation among various sectoral ministerial bodies on social protection, through the implementation of the Regional Framework and Action Plan on Implementing the Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection in ASEAN; on promoting the welfare of children through the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children; and on promoting the welfare of persons with disabilities through the implementation of the Mobilization Framework of the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2011-2020. We looked forward to the development of a regional plan of action on implementing the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing: Empowering Older Persons in ASEAN. We noted Thailand’s efforts to establish an ASEAN Center for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) in Thailand by 2019, which will support the