Participants spoke highly of preparations by Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, for key events in the bloc this year. They also basically agreed on activities, agenda items, and documents to be submitted to leaders at upcoming meetings.

ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting.

They expressed satisfaction that the initiatives and priorities for 2020 have been carried out well and on schedule despite the difficulties posed by Covid-19.

Outstanding initiatives include the mid-term review of the implementation of blueprints for the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, building the Hanoi Declaration on a post-2025 ASEAN Vision, reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, and promoting sub-regional cooperation for narrowing development gaps and promoting sustainable development, according to officials.

Regarding ASEAN’s external relations, they appreciated the contributions of partners in 2020 and during the ASEAN Community building process.

Member countries held that the principles and criteria set up by ASEAN in fundamental documents like the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific should 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 Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung thanked other member countries for their active coordination in preparing for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

He greatly valued their contributions to promoting the initiatives and priorities for 2020, stressing that these have truly become shared outcomes of the bloc.

The deputy minister affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to successfully organise the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings - the most important events in the bloc this year.

Diverse ASEAN culture reflected in traditional costumes

An exhibition of ASEAN traditional costumes opened at the Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi on October 21, featuring various cultural colours of regional countries reflected in their traditional costumes.

Nearly 6,000 runners join VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020

Nearly 6,000 runners participated in the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 on October 18.

Vietnam ready for 37th ASEAN Summit

Vietnam is ready to hold the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in November in a format suitable to current conditions, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung at a virtual ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting on Thursday.

Vietnamese carriers to recover faster than ASEAN peers

Passenger traffic for Vietnamese carriers should rebound faster than in other Southeast Asian markets, thanks to the low Covid-19 incidence in the country, a report says.

Vietnam fields first 3-star football academy in ASEAN

The Promotion Fund for Vietnamese Football Talent (PVF) has become the first 3-star football academy of AFC in Southeast Asia.

Source: NDO/VNA