ASEAN foreign ministers to hold informal meeting with Myanmar counterpart

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold an informal meeting with the foreign minister of Myanmar, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will chair the informal meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers with Myanmar counterpart, U Tin Maung Swe, on July 12. The meeting will be hosted by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkow in Bangkok, Thailand. According to the DFA, the informal meeting is the first in-person engagement between the foreign ministers of ASEAN and Myanmar since the 2021 military coup. It comes after the ASEAN Leaders during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu tasked the ASEAN foreign ministers to continue discussions on how ASEAN may maintain constructive and principled engagement with Myanmar while staying true to the principles of the Five-Point Consensus. The DFA said the foreign ministers will listen to a briefing from U Tin Maung Swe on developments in Myanmar, noting that Myanmar remains an integral part of the ASEAN Family. They are expected to exchange views on ASEAN’s engagement with Myanmar, as well as on possible concrete steps for Myanmar to address concerns regarding the cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among concerned parties, and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, as indicated in the Five-Point Consensus.