Participants at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Đà Nẵng City. — VNS Photo Trương Ngọc Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — Việt Nam is strongly committed to completing the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020, promoting the ASEAN community and foreign affairs as well as improving the working way of ASEAN.

Vietnamese deputy minister of foreign affairs, Nguyễn Quốc Dũng, made the statement at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (ASEAN SOM) in the central city on Wednesday.

He said the ASEAN SOM was the second activity this year, and it focused discussions on achievements of a retreat of foreign ministers of the ASEAN (AMM Retreat) in Nha Trang in January.

Dũng, who chaired the ASEAN SOM, said the meeting also discussed plans and preparations for the 36th ASEAN Summit from April 8-9, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit on April 9 to be held in Đà Nẵng.

At the opening ceremony, the deputy minister also confirmed that Việt Nam was a safe destination for all visitors, and measures were taken in prevention and monitoring of the novel coronavirus, or Covid-19.

“Don’t worry. We carried out all preparations for ensuring safety and health for all participants at the meeting,” he stressed.

Participants at ASEAN SOM also expressed support for initiatives and priorities proposed by Việt Nam in the year of chairmanship as well as plans for ASEAN Community development in 2025 and ASEAN after 2025.

Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, deputy permanent secretary of Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, highly appreciated the preparations by Việt Nam at the ASEAN SOM.

He said Việt Nam has been doing well in stopping Covid-19 from spreading.

Chaiyindeepum also expressed his hope that Việt Nam would host ASEAN meetings successfully in the role of ASEAN chairmanship this year.

Participants also discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, the co-operation of sub-region and the Mekong region as well as improving women’s role in building the ASEAN Community.

Following the ASEAN SOM, the 9th ASEAN Co-coordinating Council Working Group Meeting (ACCWG) and ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) will continue from March 5-6.

Việt Nam has chosen the theme ‘Cohesive and Responsive’ for the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

The ASEAN SOM drew the participation of 10 ASEAN member countries and deputy secretary of ASEAN. — VNS