ASEAN member-nations undergo “brain-storming” sessions to solve common issues

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are sensitive in many issues found a common denominator to neutralize such by “brain storming.” (Photo: ASEAN 2017/Facebook)

MANILA—Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are sensitive in many issues found a common denominator to neutralize such by “brain storming.”

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Helen dela Vega said that by talking and looking for effective solution through brainstorming to solve the problem in the region, they were able to come across with possible solutions.

“We want to ensure that the system remains open, free, rules based and stable,” dela Vega said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency at the sidelines of ASEAN 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The senior DFA official said that the kind of challenges that ASEAN faced such as the traditional and non traditional security issues, plus the uncertainties being forwarded by the populace, needed patience to attain solutions.

“Uncertainties not yet being articulated in a solid way can be addressed through talking. Nothing is impossible if we keep on talking and looking for ways how to solve it,” she noted.

Although she admitted that they could not perfected solutions to the problems and or issues in one or two sittings, a common goal of looking for an avenue on how to address every concern could lead to perfection in the future.

She said China knew it very much, that is why they were pushing the passage of the framework of the Code of Conduct and everyone was focused on stability, trade and commerce for the common good.

She even cited how the United States engaged China in globalization. China championed and resulted in the awakening of the “sleeping giant.”

“Nagkaron ng stability ang kanyang exports around the world and even in the ASEAN, and you find President Xi Jinping the strongest champion and advocate of globalization,” she stressed. “Nakakatwa nga nagkabaligtad na sila ng Amerika na siya na ngayong advocate of protectionism.”

She emphasized that sense of responsibility in the region should be the primary goal to maintain peace and “you can only do it by respecting the rule of law to peaceful settlement of disputes.”

With this, dela Vega reminded that what China had done to their country could be duplicated by ASEAN in the future and divert the attention of all nations in this part of the world.