​Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) expressed concern about various developments in Asia and nearby regions as they convened in Belgium for talks on current relations between the two regional blocs.

Among developments they tackled were the situation in the highly-contested South China Sea, which is being claimed in parts by five ASEAN members; the political situation in junta-ruled Myanmar; North Korea's ballistic missile launches; the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan; and the wars between Israel and Hamas, and Ukraine and Russia.

The 37 foreign ministers of the two regional blocs called for respect of international law; condemned the acts of violence related to such developments; urged North Korea to stop its missile launches; and asked for unhindered access to the delivery of basic needs and humanitarian
assistance to all regions and all people​ affected by wars.

The ministers welcomed the progress of talks for the crafting of a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea​; reaffirmed their position that the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus ​is the main reference to address the political crisis in​ Myanmar; and renewed their commitment ​to implement UN Security Council's resolutions to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

​They also called for a "durable ceasefire" in the Middle East and encouraged ​"further coordinated efforts from the international community to help address
the crisis.​"

"We urged all parties concerned to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realising the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," they said.

They also said they took note—some of them underlying the importance of—the order on provisional measures issued by interim ruling by the International Court of Justice on January 26, which demanded the halting of acts of genocide.

​Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo, as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell co-chaired the 24th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting held on Feb. 2 in Brussels.

"We reaffirmed our Strategic Partnership and our shared interest in keeping our regions peaceful, stable, and prosperous, in upholding and respecting international law and the rules​-based international order based on adherence to international law and in maintaining peace,​ security and stability..." their nine-page joint statement read.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue conducting dialogue "to achieve peace and harmony in a diverse global community."

"We are committed to embrace the values of tolerance and moderation, and full respect of the cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity," they said.