Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung chairs the ASEAN Senior Officials' Online Meeting (SOM). (Photo: VNA)

At the online meeting chaired by Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, participants also reviewed action plans and achievements from the beginning of this year. Deputy Minister Dung highlighted progress ASEAN has made in cooperation in response to the COVID-19, the community building process, and ASEAN's centrality in the context of increasing competition among major countries. He said the meeting is an opportunity for ASEAN countries to re-evaluate the progress and achievements achieved so far, thereby giving recommendations to the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

Participants highly appreciated Vietnam as the Chair of ASEAN 2020 for its efforts to maintain cooperation, promote ASEAN activities and programs, and connect countries in and outside the region for effective response to the epidemic. They affirmed ASEAN's determination to enhance its centrality, solidarity and cooperation, build a Community Vision 2025 and beyond, while effectively controlling the epidemic and boosting the post-epidemic recovery process.