ASEAN Member States Agree to Strengthen Cyber Coordination and Capacity-Building Efforts

The third ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC) was convened today as part of the Singapore International Cyber Week 2018. Chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security, Mr S Iswaran, AMCC was attended by Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Cybersecurity and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) from all 10 ASEAN Member States, including ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

The AMCC followed up on the directions given by the ASEAN Leaders at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in April 2018, specifically to better coordinate ASEAN cybersecurity efforts among various platforms of the three pillars of ASEAN. The AMCC agreed that there is a need for a formal ASEAN cybersecurity mechanism to consider and to decide on inter-related cyber diplomacy, policy and operational issues. It was recommended that the proposed mechanism should be flexible and also take into account multiple dimensions, including economic considerations.

ASEAN Ministers noted that Singapore will propose a mechanism to enhance ASEAN cyber coordination which will be tabled to ASEAN Leaders for consideration. The AMCC agreed that, while the proposal for an ASEAN cybersecurity mechanism is being considered, the AMCC should continue to serve as the interim and non-formal ASEAN platform for cybersecurity.

The AMCC reaffirmed the importance of a rules-based cyberspace as an enabler of economic progress and betterment of living standards, and agreed in-principle that international law, voluntary and non-binding norms of State behaviour, and practical confidence building measures are essential for stability and predictability in cyberspace. In this context, the AMCC agreed to subscribe in-principle to the 11 voluntary, non-binding norms recommended in the 2015 Report of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UNGGE), as well as to focus on regional capacity-building in implementing these norms.

The decisions of the ASEAN Ministers will be recorded in this year’s AMCC Chairman’s Statement, relevant portions of which will be included in the Chairman’s Statement of the 33rd ASEAN Summit.

ASEAN Ministers and Senior Officials who attended the AMCC also called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana today. Issues discussed included ways to enhance ASEAN regional cooperation on cyber policy coordination, development of norms of behaviour and capacity building. Please refer to Annex A for the photo of the Joint Call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

About the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) provides dedicated and centralised oversight of national cybersecurity functions, and works with sector leads to protect Singapore’s critical services. It also engages with various industries, and stakeholders to heighten cybersecurity awareness as well as to ensure the holistic development of Singapore’s cybersecurity landscape. The Agency is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Communications and Information.

About Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW)

Organised by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) is co-hosted with the Ministry of Communications and Information, Ministry of Home Affairs and Attorney-General’s Chambers. SICW is the region’s most established cybersecurity event. It is the ideal platform to discuss, network, strategise and form partnerships in the cybersecurity space, with an emphasis on international and regional cooperation, cyber ecosystem development and cutting-edge innovation. SICW includes cornerstone events such as the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity and GovernmentWare (GovWare) Showcasing the latest trends, innovations and solutions, GovWare is the region’s leading conference and exhibition on cybersecurity.  

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Related Resource

Annex A