Senior officials review preparations for 37th ASEAN Summit, related events
The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting took place via videoconference on November 9 to look into preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, slated for later this week.
Hanoi (VNA) - The ASEAN SeniorOfficials’ Preparatory Meeting took place via videoconference on November 9 tolook into preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, slatedfor later this week.
Participants spoke highly of preparations byVietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, for key events in the bloc this year. Theyalso basically agreed on activities, agenda items, and documents to be submittedto leaders at upcoming meetings.
They expressed satisfaction that the initiatives and priorities for 2020 havebeen carried out well and on schedule despite the difficulties posed byCOVID-19.
Outstanding initiatives include the mid-termreview of the implementation of blueprints for the ASEAN Community Vision 2025,building the Hanoi Declaration on a post-2025 ASEAN Vision, reviewing theimplementation of the ASEAN Charter, and promoting sub-regional cooperation fornarrowing development gaps and promoting sustainable development, according toofficials.
Regarding ASEAN’s external relations, theyappreciated the contributions of partners in 2020 and during the ASEANCommunity building process.
Member countries held that the principles andcriteria set up by ASEAN in fundamental documents like the Treaty of Amity andCooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacificshould continue to be upheld and applied widely.
On this basis, they agreed on proposals of Cuba,Colombia and South Africa on joining TAC.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Foreign MinisterNguyen Quoc Dung thanked other member countries for their active coordination inpreparing for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
He greatly valued their contributions topromoting the initiatives and priorities for 2020, stressing that these havetruly become shared outcomes of the bloc.
The deputy minister affirmed that Vietnam will doits utmost to successfully organise the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings- the most important events in the bloc this year./.
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ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting (Source: VNA) 
