The East Asia Summit (EAS) – as a premier leaders-led forum – has promoted peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Therefore, the EAS must remain strategically relevant and practical for constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
This was said by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in a titah during the 17th EAS at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, Cambodia yesterday.
Accompanying the monarch was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
His Majesty underlined the importance of continuing to support multilateralism founded on the principles in the United Nations Charter and based on international law.
As mental health issues have the potential to further hinder socio-economic progress and overall wellbeing of the peoples, His Majesty stressed the need for all parties to continue working closely in sharing policy and practical expertise to help alleviate the burden.
As a follow-up to the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Mental Health Cooperation adopted last year, the monarch also called for the need for officials to look into developing an action plan to encourage regional and international cooperation on mental health. ASEAN, His Majesty shared, is working on establishing a Centre for Climate Change in Brunei Darussalam to ensure the region is better prepared by mitigating its impact on food security and transitioning to renewable energy. In this regard, technical and scientific expertise from partners to assist the centre in developing policies to address cross-cutting issues better are welcomed.
At the summit, European Council President Charles Michel and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretary-General Zhang Ming briefed on food and energy security, while Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi reported on the key developments of the EAS including cooperation in addressing global health issues, advancing towards a sustainable energy future, greater collaboration on regional and global trade, as well as maritime cooperation.
EAS leaders, meanwhile, expressed their shared concern over global security challenges and called for the peaceful resolution of conflicts to be achieved through dialogue and commitment to multilateralism. They also hoped for greater regional economic integration and enhanced EAS cooperation in digitalisation and sustainable energy.
His Majesty then attended the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits and the handover of the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesia, along with other ASEAN heads of state and government.
The ceremony began with a closing statement from Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen as ASEAN Chair. The prime minister then honoured Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi for his contributions since receiving his appointment as the secretary-general of ASEAN.
During the ceremony, Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit of Brunei Darussalam was also announced as the recipient of the ASEAN Prize 2022.
The prime minister then handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesian President Joko Widodo through the passing of the ASEAN Chair’s Gavel as the symbolic handover to Indonesia as incoming ASEAN chair in 2023.
