1. The 8th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting was held on 24 September 2025 on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, USA. The Meeting was co-chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, H.E. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, H.E. Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio.

2. The Ministers noted the recent developments in ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance, and reaffirmed ASEAN’s and the Pacific Alliance’s unwavering commitment to upholding multilateralism and the multilateral trading system as well as the importance of continued inter-regional cooperation in mutually beneficial areas for the peoples of the two regions. These include, among others, trade and investment, digital and green economies, Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs), sustainable development, tourism, as well as cultural, academic and other people-to-people exchanges.

3. The Ministers took note of the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Work Plan (2021-2026) under its five pillars: (i) Economic Cooperation; (ii) Education and People-to-People Contacts; (iii) Science, Technology and Innovation as well as Smart Cities and Connectivity; (iv) Environment and Sustainable Development and; (v) Cooperation on Post-Pandemic recovery due to COVID-19.

4. The Ministers highlighted the importance of fully and effectively implementing the remaining activities under the current ASEAN-Pacific Alliance’s Work Plan including preparations for a new Work Plan that will reflect emerging challenges and opportunities, and reiterated their commitment to continue pursuing regional integration and inter-regional cooperation initiatives, while acting within their respective areas of responsibility.

5. The Ministers also welcomed the launch of the Tourism Microsite and E-Learning initiative as well as the proposed ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Cultural Week which aims to highlight the cultural vibrancy among the countries of both regions under the Education and People-to-People Contacts pillar of the Work Plan.

6. The Ministers underscored Singapore’s progress towards Associated State status and the Pacific Alliance –Singapore Free Trade Agreement as a precedent for other ASEAN Member States to strengthen ties with the Pacific Alliance.

Photo credit: Singapore Mission to the UN