Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation to the event. (Photo: VNA) Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation to the event.
Participating officialsreviewed the preparations for the AMM-54 and related meetings, scheduled totake place via videoconference from August 2 to 6, and also discussed the bloc’spriorities for 2021.
They reaffirmed thecommitment to supporting the initiatives of the ASEAN Year 2021 such as theASEAN SHIELD, enhancing the combined strength of the bloc in responding to natural disasters, promoting multilateralism, improving the awareness of the identityand spirit of the ASEAN Community, and building the post-2025 ASEAN CommunityVision.
Given the COVID-19 resurgencein many regional countries, they underlined the urgency of augmenting responseefforts, especially procuring vaccines, deploying the ASEAN COVID-19 ResponseFund, and recovering comprehensively.
The meeting stressed theimportance of sub-regional cooperation in narrowing the development gap andbuilding the ASEAN Community, highly valuing and supporting Vietnam’sinitiative to organise an ASEAN forum on sub-regional cooperation in late 2021.
Regarding external relations,officials discussed measures to enhance regional dialogue and cooperation andto further bring into play the bloc’s centrality in the ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Regional and internationalissues of common concern were also put on table at the event.
In his speech, Deputy ForeignMinister Dung emphasised the vital role of vaccine and anti-viral drugs in theCOVID-19 combat, urging ASEAN countries to step up vaccine procurement plans,strengthen cooperation with partners in vaccine access, supply anddistribution, share experience, and improve vaccine production capacity.
Vietnam will keep workingwith other countries to effectively implement the cooperation outcomes obtainedin 2020, including the building of the post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision, heaffirmed.
Highlighting the significanceof sub-regional cooperation, he appreciated the countries’ support for Vietnam’sinitiative to hold the ASEAN forum on sub-regional cooperation.
Dung called for stronger connection of sub-regional cooperation with common development frameworks andprogrammes of ASEAN, considering this one of the focuses to realise the ASEANCommunity Vision 2025 and build the post-2025 vision.
At the meeting, the deputyminister also exchanged views on regional and international issues of sharedconcern, stressing that amid complex and unpredictable developments in theregional and international situation, ASEAN should maintain its solidarity andcommon voice and bring into play its centrality in dealing with issues relatedto regional peace, security, and stability.
On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership (July 28, 1995 - 2021), he thankedall members of the bloc for consistently assisting and supporting the country,adding that Vietnam will continue standing side by side with them on the pathto a strong and dynamic ASEAN./.
VNA
