Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh chairs the meeting. VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI As Việt Nam will take over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Thailand in early November 2019, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh asked the National ASEAN 2020 Committee, its sub-committees and Secretariat, ministries, agencies and localities to do their best to complete preparations for the event.
The National ASEAN 2020 Committee convened its fourth meeting in Hà Nội on Friday under the chair of Minh.

Due to many important Party and State events next year, he urged members of the committee, sub-committees and Secretariat, ministries and agencies to give priority to tasks regarding ASEAN Chair Year 2020, adding that it is both the responsibility and benefit of the Vietnamese country and people.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the committee Nguyễn Quốc Dũng reviewed work done by sub-committees and the Secretariat, particularly tasks worked out at the third meeting, saying that it has basically met requirements.

He requested completing the website of the ASEAN Chair Year 2020, the communications plan and major activities for the year, including a ceremony to transfer the role of the ASEAN Chairmanship, a ceremony to launch ASEAN Chair Year 2020, and ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.

The focus of the discussions was a comprehensive review of the past and upcoming tasks, especially the launch of an overall plan on Việt Nam’s assumption of ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 and detailed plans on agenda, logistics, reception, communications – culture, security and healthcare.

On the occasion, the sub-committee on communications and culture and the ASEAN Secretariat 2020 debuted the logo and identity of ASEAN Chair Year 2020 as approved by the committee, which will be also introduced to ASEAN member states and partner countries at the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Thailand from October 31 – November 4. VNS