(VOVworld) – The annual 46^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM46) opened in Brunei on Sunday. In his opening speech, Crown Prince Mahamed Bolkia who is Brunei’s Foreign and Trade Minister and the AMM46 Chairman praised ASEAN member states’ cooperation in building the agenda for the meeting. He also expressed ASEAN’s determination to achieve the set targets including building a united bloc based on the region’s fundamental principles and values. Bolkia also stressed that the biggest value of ASEAN is to reach high consensus in a number of important issues: “While holding ASEAN’s presidency, we have had the chance to hold bilateral meetings with other countries in the region and we have received encouraging support. What we have in common is the determination to create a region of peace and stability. ASEAN member states have been cooperated well on all issues.”

After the opening ceremony, ASEAN Foreign Ministers held a closed-door meeting to discuss global and regional issues including the building of an ASEAN Community by 2015, increasing external relations and enhancing the role of ASEAN in the regional architecture as well as in settling important regional issues. They will discuss ways to boost linkages within ASEAN so as to expand connection with East Asia. The ministers will also discuss ASEAN’s role in ensuring regional peace, security and stability as well as the situation in the East Sea and on the Korean peninsular. They will also look at the joint documents of ASEAN and the AMM46.