ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting opens in Da Nang

3/5/2020 - 9:40:20 AM

The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in the central coastal city of Da Nang on March 4 with the participation of hundreds of senior officials from the 10 ASEAN member countries.

Delegates in a group photo (Photo: VNA)

The event was chaired by Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of SOM Vietnam.

At the meeting, participants discussed the implementation of outcomes from the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province in January, and the initial preparation for the 36th ASEAN Summit and relevant events to be held in Da Nang on April 8 and 9.

They agreed on the working agenda of the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit slated for April 9th, immediately after the 36th ASEAN Summit.

Participants also gave feedback about steps to implement initiatives and priorities proposed by Vietnam during 2020 under the theme "Cohesive and Responsive”.

Delegates expressed support for initiatives on holding a mid-term review of the implementation of ASEAN Community building plans to 2025, conducting an evaluation of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, advocating efforts to promote sub-regional cooperation, especially in the Greater Mekong Subregion, enhancing womens role in building the ASEAN Community, and the promotion of the ASEAN image.

In his speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung affirmed Vietnam’s determination to fulfill the tasks of the ASEAN Chair in 2020, including the acceleration of the ASEAN Community building process, the expansion of ASEAN’s external relations and reform of ASEAN working methods.

Mentioning the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the diplomat described Vietnam as a safe destination for foreign tourists with the epidemic under control. As the host of ASEAN events this year, Vietnam has been taking a range of measures to safeguard the safety and health of all delegates, he added.

Following the SOM, the special ASEAN SOM, the ninth meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG), and the joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) are scheduled to take place on March 5-6.

Source: NDO

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