SOM finalizes agenda of ASEAN+3 and EAS Ministerial Meetings

The SOM meeting reviewed and set out directions to promote ASEAN cooperation with partners within the framework of ASEAN+3 and EAS.

On July 23, in Vientiane, Laos, the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of ASEAN+3 (with China, South Korea, Japan), SOM of the East Asia Summit - EAS (with 8 Dialogue Partners China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, India, Australia, New Zealand) took place. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Head of ASEAN SOM of Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the meetings.

Delegates attending the SOM EAS meeting.

The meetings completed preparations and agreed on the agenda of the Ministerial meetings, including reviewing and setting out directions to promote ASEAN cooperation with partners within the framework of ASEAN+3 and EAS. The ASEAN+3 and EAS Foreign Ministerial Meetings will take place on July 26, 2016.

On the occasion of these SOM meetings, the countries also discussed a number of key points and cooperation priorities within the framework of ASEAN+3 and EAS such as implementing the EAS Declaration on enhancing maritime cooperation, implementing the recommendations of the East Asia Vision Group II, in which Vietnam took the lead in three recommendations (on enhancing cooperation in non-traditional security issues, expanding the scope of the East Asia Rice Reserve Fund, and cooperation between public radio and television stations in East Asia).

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the SOM meeting on the morning of July 23.

On the afternoon of July 23, ASEAN Foreign Ministers held a Dialogue with representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and attended the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Commission (SEANFWZ) Meeting. Authorized by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Head of ASEAN Senior Officials of Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation to these activities.

The Dialogue between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and AICHR representatives is held annually, providing an opportunity for AICHR representatives to report on their work and seek guidance from the Ministers on future directions.

At the Dialogue, the Ministers welcomed the efforts of the AICHR in implementing the 5-year Work Plan for the period 2016-2020, through the AICHR's priority activities in 2017 and requested the AICHR to effectively implement these activities to continue promoting human rights cooperation in the region, making practical contributions to the process of building a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN Community.

At the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Commission Meeting (SEANFWZ), countries reviewed the progress of implementing the Action Plan for Strengthening the Implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty (2013-2017); considered promoting negotiations with nuclear-weapon states on joining the Protocol of the Treaty to ensure that these states commit to respecting the Treaty, not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against member states of the Treaty; and discussed directions for enhancing cooperation between the ASEAN Nuclear Regulatory Bodies Network (ASEANTOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On July 24, the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-49) will officially open in the Lao capital Vientiane./.

According to VOV