VIENTIANE — Deputy Foreign Minister Đỗ Hùng Việt, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation of Việt Nam, attended a series of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s meetings in Luang Prabang city, Laos on August 21-22.

The events, consisting of the ASEAN SOM, the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM ASEAN+3), and the East Asia Summit Preparatory Senior Officials' Meeting (EAS Prep-SOM), focused discussion on preparations for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits, which will take place from October 8-11 in Vientiane, Laos.

In his speeches at the meetings, Deputy FM Việt affirmed Việt Nam's support for Laos in successfully chairing the important events, contributing to the overall success of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

He joined other delegates in debating and contributing opinions on the ASEAN Community-building process and the bloc's relations with its partners, particularly focusing on measures and initiatives to realise the theme of promoting connectivity and resilience in the region.

The Vietnamese official affirmed that Việt Nam supports Timor-Leste in becoming a full member of ASEAN and is ready to share Vietnam's experiences during its preparation to join ASEAN in the early 1990s. He stressed that ASEAN should support, facilitate, and further simplify procedures for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.

Applauding efforts to deepen ASEAN+3 and EAS cooperation mechanisms, Deputy FM Việt urged partners to continue supporting ASEAN in building the Community, fostering substantive cooperation to promote regional connectivity and resilience, and effectively leveraging emerging trends in innovation, digital economy, digital transformation, and green transition.

Regarding global and regional situations, Việt called on partners to support ASEAN's common principled stance, including those related to the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) issue. He emphasised the importance of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in peacefully resolving disputes, affirming Việt Nam's desire to work with other countries to maintain and promote peace, security, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

On this occasion, Việt met with ASEAN’s partners, including Japan, Australia, and the US to discuss issues related to bilateral cooperation, and coordination at multilateral forums.

At the SOM meetings, partners affirmed their support for ASEAN's central role, and commitment to working with ASEAN to build an open, transparent, inclusive, rules-based regional structure, and supporting the implementation of cooperation areas within the framework of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They expressed concern about complex developments in the region and globally, such as the East Sea, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East, and the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the necessity to adhere to international law, the UN Charter, and peacefully resolve disputes in accordance with international law and the UNCLOS 1982.

As scheduled, the series of summits will include around 20 events held at the National Convention Centre of Laos, with the participation of leaders from ASEAN member nations and their partners, along with representatives from international and regional organisations. These summits offer an opportunity for representatives of ASEAN and its partners to discuss and make strategic decisions to accelerate the Community-building process, boost the bloc’s relations with its partners, and discuss regional and global issues.

About 80 documents are expected to be adopted or noted at the events. Countries highly valued Laos' preparations and coordination, affirming their commitment to closely collaborate with Laos – the ASEAN Chair in 2024, in organising the events. — VNS