ASEAN, UAE launch sectoral dialogue partnership

JAKARTA, 7 June 2023 - ASEAN and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) convened the inaugural ASEAN-UAE Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AUAE-JSCC) Meeting. The meeting marked the launch of the formal partnership where both sides identified a number of cooperative projects and programmes in areas of mutual benefit and interest.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers conferred the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner to the UAE at the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in August 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Following the conferment, the AUAE-JSCC was convened to provide direction and oversee all aspects of cooperation under the ASEAN-UAE Sectoral Dialogue Partnership framework.

The meeting adopted the Terms of Reference for AUAE-JSCC and deliberated on several areas of future cooperation. On the political sphere, the meeting looked forward to explore cooperation in areas of transnational crime, preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism, cybersecurity, peace and reconciliation, as well as good governance and rule of law.

On the economic front, the meeting looked forward to intensify cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, public-private and business-to-business networking and linkages, energy, food security, tourism, advanced technology, strengthening ASEAN's market integration, sustainability and decarbonisation, digital transformation, as well as inclusivity (micro, small and medium enterprises, Public-Private Partnership, and people-to-people contacts).

On the socio-cultural sphere, the meeting sought to explore cooperation in the areas of education, heritage and culture, public health, climate change, and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides also agreed to develop the ASEAN-UAE Practical Cooperation Areas which will serve as a guiding framework in achieving shared goals and corresponding priorities in the coming years.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community Michael Tene and Minister of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh. Ambassador of the UAE to ASEAN Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri, members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives and their respective delegations were also in attendance. Representatives from Timor-Leste attended as observer.

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