ASEAN and China expected to issue a Statement on the implementation of DOC

At AMM-49, ASEAN and Chinese Foreign Ministers are expected to issue a statement on the full and effective implementation of the DOC.

From July 23 to 26, in Vientiane, Laos, the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-49) and related Foreign Ministers' Meetings will take place, including: ASEAN+1 with 10 Dialogue Partners (PMC), ASEAN+3 with Northeast Asian countries (APT) 17th, East Asia Summit 6th (EAS FMM) and the 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) with the participation of Foreign Ministers of 27 countries (10 ASEAN countries and 17 non-ASEAN partners).

The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-49) and related Foreign Ministers' Meetings took place in Vientiane, Laos from July 23-26.

These are the most important ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings of the year, with the agenda spanning all areas of cooperation from politics - security to economics - finance and socio-culture.

Specifically, AMM-49 will discuss issues of intra-bloc cooperation, Community building as well as ASEAN's foreign relations, including promoting the implementation of the Master Plan for the Implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Vision 2025, strengthening ASEAN's central role, improving ASEAN's apparatus and working style, reviewing the ASEAN Charter...

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting with each partner will review the relationship between ASEAN and the countries in the past and the direction to promote the relationship in the coming time, including preparations for the ASEAN+1 Summits in September in Laos.

As expected, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and China will issue a Statement on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (with China, Japan, and South Korea) will discuss the review of the implementation of the 2013-2017 Work Plan and prepare for the development of a new Work Plan for the next phase, in preparation for the ASEAN+3 Summit in September 2016, including the adoption of the ASEAN+3 Summit Declaration on Sustainable Development proposed by Laos.

The EAS Foreign Ministers' Meeting will discuss the evolving regional architecture and the role of the EAS, and the implementation of the EAS 10th Anniversary Statement adopted by the Leaders in November 2015, including measures to strengthen the EAS.

The conference will also discuss preparations for the EAS Summit in September 2016, including documents expected to be adopted: the EAS High-Level Statement on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Vientiane Declaration on Promoting Cooperation in Infrastructure Development, and the EAS High-Level Statement on Migrants and Human Trafficking.

The ARF meeting will review the implementation of confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy during the past intersessional year and adopt a list of activities for the next intersessional year 2016-2017; as well as discuss the future direction of the ARF.

In addition to the above issues, the Conferences will discuss international and regional issues of common concern, including the East Sea issue, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, terrorism and extreme violence, human trafficking, irregular migration, etc.

The Vietnamese delegation attended the Conference with the motto of being proactive, positive and responsible.

The Conferences took place in the context of the international and regional situation continuing to develop complicatedly, strategic competition between major countries is increasing and traditional and non-traditional security challenges are becoming more serious and direct, especially the situation in the East Sea and terrorist activities. The unstable recovery of the world economy and the consequences of the UK leaving the EU also have impacts on the region and ASEAN.

Meanwhile, ASEAN continues the process of building the Community, strengthening foreign relations and promoting its central role in the region. On the East Sea issue, ASEAN has basically maintained its principled stances and common voice.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, attended the Conference with the motto of being proactive, positive and responsible, including playing a core role in a number of major issues of the Association; persistently maintaining a principled stance, being flexible and skillful in handling complicated issues on the basis of ensuring ASEAN solidarity and consensus and in accordance with Vietnam's interests.

Vietnam's goal is to continue contributing to strengthening cooperation, unity and the central role of ASEAN, especially in ensuring peace, security and development in the region, promoting substantive relations between ASEAN and its partners and improving the effectiveness of regional forums in which ASEAN plays a leading role, and strengthening relations between Vietnam and other countries./.

According to VOV