 Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
Mr. Dung made the statement at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting retreat in Singapore on Friday. He also urged ASEAN to maintain close consultation and promote regional mechanisms and forums initiated by ASEAN, contributing to common peace, stability, and development. The Deputy FM announced that Vietnam will host the 23rd meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in early March.
At the retreat meeting, delegates agreed that ASEAN needs to maintain solidarity and its central role, build legal order, ensure peace and security, and boost cooperation in responding to climate challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and terrorism. They also suggested ASEAN to seize opportunities brought by science and technology to grow faster via initiatives in e-commerce, smart city, aviation, tourism, and youth affairs.