According to the VNA correspondent in Laos, on September 12, Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphane Savanphet, Head of SOM ASEAN Laos, highly appreciated the organization of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM 53) and other Relevant conference of Vietnam, ASEAN Chair Country 2020.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos congratulated Vietnam on not only successfully organizing all events according to the set objectives but also completing the exchange and discussion of planned documents in the context of a pandemic of respiratory inflammation. COVID-19 acute absorption is complicated in both the region and the world. In addition, the priorities set by the President of ASEAN are well progressed.

Regarding AMM 53 and related conferences, Deputy Minister Thongphane Savanphet assessed that the organization has done very well. Although the conference is held in the online form but the exchange and direct comments still take place like in-person conferences. Regarding the content and the meetings including the meeting of ministers on women's roles; roles of the region… have all been organized as face-to-face meetings.

In addition, AMM 53 also considered and evaluated the implementation of ASEAN work such as evaluating the results of the implementation of ASEAN's three-pillar implementation plans, ASEAN Vision; evaluation of the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity ... The progress is good including the vision-building plan after 2025.

ASEAN also adopted new ideas, which are an important foundation for future cooperation, in which one of the most important contents that ASEAN and partner countries have agreed and committed to cooperation in the work of anti-epidemic COVID-19. The parties pledged to exchange experiences and collaborate in research on vaccine production ... In addition, the conference also focused on the mission of recovering the socio-economic after the COVID-19 epidemic and through the concept document on the framework of cooperation plans to fully restore the economy in the ASEAN region.

At the meetings, ministers adopted many important documents, which serve as the foundation for cooperation such as documents on building an organizational framework for the establishment of the ASEAN Fund to handle the loss of COVID-19 or documents to establish a regional emergency medical supplies reserve warehouse. The most important document is the Joint Communique of ASEAN Foreign Ministers, which clearly states the direction of cooperation in the coming time and next year.

According to Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphane Savanphet, at these conferences, ASEAN continues to play a central role in the cooperation with outside countries, set up programs, give priorities in discussion and cooperation with countries outside the region. Cooperation with ASEAN's development partners and dialogue partners in the implementation of the past 5-year plan has progressed well. The parties also discussed the cooperation plan for the period of 2021-2025 and approved these five-year cooperation plans with many partners such as the US, South Korea, New Zealand, India and many other countries. These are the foundation documents for ASEAN's cooperation with other countries in the next 5 years.

More and more countries outside the region are interested in working with ASEAN, especially many countries like the UK want to become a dialogue partner with ASEAN, and many other countries also want to become development partners with ASEAN. At this meeting, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries agreed with France and Italy to become ASEAN's development partners. In addition, the number of ambassadors from outside countries in Jakarta (Indonesia) where the ASEAN Secretariat is located, submits letters to become permanent ambassadors to ASEAN according to the current 93 countries. This clearly demonstrates ASEAN's centrality.

According to Lao Chief SOM, the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the COC negotiations in 2020. Last week, leaders of the specialist groups in charge of COC negotiations met, discussed and this can be considered as the first progression is made because both ASEAN and China have agreed that in the near future, they will consider organizing an online COC negotiation if the COVID-19 translation continues. Both ASEAN and China have pledged to work to quickly complete an effective and effective COC

Source: TapchiLaoViet