Manila: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers proposed the appointment of a permanent special envoy to Myanmar and a benchmarking tool to assess the progress of the Southeast Asian state's implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC).

According to Philippines News Agency, these proposals were put forward during the extended informal consultation on the situation in Myanmar, chaired by the Philippines in Pasay City. The meeting aimed to address the ongoing political situation in Myanmar.

At a press huddle, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who also serves as the special envoy of the ASEAN chair to Myanmar, indicated that attending top diplomats have agreed to consider the possibility of a 'long-term envoy' in the neighboring state. 'It has been agreed upon that having an annual special envoy, like in my case, is something that is not really-it's not really that effective because you have to have the whole picture,' she said.

Lazaro further explained that the proposal for a permanent envoy was initially introduced by Brunei, suggesting that the special envoy should be assisted by a unit in the secretariat. However, she noted that these ideas are still in the proposal stage and that funding remains an issue.

In addition to the envoy proposition, the ministers discussed the development of a new approach or mechanism to benchmark and assess developments in Myanmar. This meeting follows the first in-person gathering between Myanmar's top diplomat and ASEAN foreign ministers last July 12. Notably, no representative from Myanmar was present at the meeting.

Lazaro expressed optimism about ASEAN's commitment to assist Myanmar in achieving a lasting, Myanmar-owned and led solution that would benefit both the Myanmar people and the region. She reiterated that ASEAN would continue to be guided by the 5PC as its main reference in supporting Myanmar, emphasizing that the country remains an integral part of ASEAN.