Deputy Foreign Minister and head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM Nguyen Quoc Dung at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister and head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM NguyenQuoc Dung answered reporters’ queries about preparations and agenda for the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-53) and related meetings during a press conferencein Hanoi on September 7.
Aboutthe possibility to establish new partnership between ASEAN and partners withinthe framework of the meeting, Dung said ASEAN now has three partnership levels,including full dialogue partnership, dialogue partnership in areas anddevelopment partnership. The bloc has received proposals from countries at all theabove levels.
Recently,the UK proposed establishing full dialogue partnership while Morocco and theUnited Arab Emirates were also interested in setting up dialogue partnership inareas with the grouping. Several countries also suggested joining the Treaty ofAmity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). All proposed are being considered byASEAN.
Onthe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Dung said as RCEP isone of the priorities of the bloc. Vietnam has actively stepped up negotiations for signing the agreement later this year in its capacity as ASEAN Chair.
Headded that Vietnam hopes that at ASEAN ministers’ meetings, especially thosediscussing economic affairs, terms of the deal will be reached and signed.
SharingVietnam’s expectations at AMM-53 and related meetings when the region and theworld are coping with new non-traditional security challenges such as COVID-19,Dung said the pandemic response is part of the meeting’s agenda.
Sinceearly this year, ASEAN has strived to fight the pandemic with various newinitiatives. Additionally, challenges arising from climate change, terrorism,security and safety at sea and protection of fishermen will also be discussed.
Asregards to negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) at the meeting,Dung said the COC continues to be a priority of both ASEAN and China. Talks on theissue have been delayed due to the pandemic.
Accordingto him, both sides discussed ways to resume negotiations as well as upcominggoals./.
