JAKARTA, 19 NOVEMBER 2020 – ASEAN and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen relations and advance mutually beneficial cooperation at the 4^th Meeting of the ASEAN-Germany Development Committee held via videoconference

Both sides welcomed the substantive progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Germany Development Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas 2018-2022. Both sides  explored opportunities to further deepen cooperation in the areas of trade; environment and climate change; technical vocational education and training (TVET); poverty alleviation; agriculture; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME); and sustainable development. Other potential areas of cooperation were also discussed, such as on smart cities; digital infrastructure and transformation; cybersecurity; air transport; health; green economy; as well as support for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan IV (2021-2025)

Further, ASEAN and Germany shared concerns over COVID-19’s continued spread and severity, and its adverse impacts on lives and livelihoods, as well as the socio-economic development in the region and around the world. On that note, the Meeting appreciated Germany’s pledge to contribute EUR 5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund as well as Germany’s contribution to the Europe Union’s “Team Europe” package of over €800 million for the ASEAN region to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

The meeting also underscored the need to enhance cooperation in the post-pandemic recovery, including on vaccine production as well as its equitable accessibility and affordability. The meeting further deliberated on possible activities, including support for the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework as well as other related initiatives of ASEAN.

Additionally, both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern, particularly on negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the ASEAN-Outlook on the Indo-Pacific as well as Germany’s Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific region. On that note, the meeting  emphasised the importance of upholding multilateralism and rules-based international order.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoak and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to ASEAN Peter Schoof co-chaired the meeting. Minister of State of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, Niels Annen, and  members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN were in attendance.