Vietnam Attended ASEAN SOM Meetings, Held Wide-ranging Discussions 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama-VNA) -- ASEAN Senior Official on Monday held a wide-ranging discussions on the bloc’s adaptation to geo-economic fluctuations, strengthening relations with existing partners, considering proposals to establish new partners, as well as reviewing Timor-Leste’s accession process at the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM).

Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) had led Vietnam’s delegation to the meeting, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. 

The meeting opened a series of activities within the framework of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) and Related Meetings from July 8 to 11.

It comprehensively reviewed the agenda and logistics for the upcoming meetings.

Binh and other representatives highly appreciated the role of the ASEAN Chair - Malaysia - in coordinating and leading ASEAN cooperation to achieve many advances, gradually concretising the orientation of "inclusivity and sustainability".

The AMM-58 and Related Meetings will see the participation of Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste and 17 ASEAN partners, who will engage in about 20 activities within the frameworks of ASEAN, ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son is expected to lead the Vietnamese delegation to attend the first activities within the framework of the AMM-58 on July 8, including a dialogue between ASEAN foreign ministers and the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) Committee Meeting.

These ministerial meetings are of special importance, taking place just a few weeks after the 46th ASEAN Summit with many historic results, opening a new development stage for ASEAN.

Implementing leaders' decisions, the ministers will have in-depth discussions on orientation and ways to put the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and cooperation strategies into practice.

The ministers will discuss in detail the development of a roadmap and the implementation of procedures for Timor-Leste to join legal documents, as well as continue to support the country after it becomes an ASEAN member.

In addition, they will review ASEAN's overall relations with its partners, adopt cooperation plans in the new period, and discuss international and regional issues of current top concern.

-- BERNAMA-VNA