ASEAN senior officials’ meeting opens in Da Nang
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung chaired the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) which took place in the central city of Da Nang on Wednesday.
 (Photo: VNA) |
He affirmed Vietnam’s determination to fulfill the tasks of the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, including the acceleration of the ASEAN Community building process, the expansion of ASEAN’s external relations and the reform of ASEAN working methods.
In mentioning the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease COVID-19, Mr. Dung described Vietnam as a safe destination for foreign tourists with the epidemic under good control. As host of ASEAN events this year, Vietnam has been taking a range of measures to ensure the safety and health of all delegates.
Participants discussed making actionable the conclusions reached at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province in January, and the initial preparations for the 36th ASEAN Summit and relevant events to be held in Da Nang on April 8-9. They agreed on the working agenda of the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit slated for April 9 immediately after the 36th ASEAN Summit. Participants also gave their opinions about steps to implement initiatives and priorities proposed by Vietnam during 2020 under the theme “Cohesive and Responsive”.
Following the SOM, the special ASEAN SOM, the 9th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group, and the Joint Consultative Meeting are scheduled to take place on March 5-6.