49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting opens in Vientiane
The 49 th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 49) opened in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, on July 24 under the chair of Laos, the rotary Chair of the ASEAN this year.
The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting opens in Vientiane (Source: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – The 49 th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 49) opened in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, on July 24 under the chair of Laos, the rotary Chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.
The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting is led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
In an opening speech, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith stressed that AMM 49 and related meetings are taking place at a crucial moment when ASEAN is making all-out efforts to implement the ASEAN Vision to 2025 and strengthen its partnership with outside partners. At the same time, the regional and world situation is seeing rapid changes which bring both opportunities and challenges.
The Lao PM, therefore, called on foreign ministers of ASEAN and partner countries hold candid and constructive discussions to prepare for the 28 th and 29 th ASEAN Summits and related meetings scheduled for early September in Vientiane, as well as to contribute to maintaining and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole.
Addressing the ceremony, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith highlighted the great strides made by ASEAN during nearly 50 years of its existence, not only in expanding the bloc’s membership but also achieving the formation of the ASEAN Community at the end of 2015. He stressed that the bloc’s success is attributable to peace and stability in the region and the active cooperation of member countries.
During their meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers are to discuss issues related to intra-bloc cooperation, community building and the bloc’s external relations, including accelerating the implementation of the blueprint on realising the ASEAN Politicial-Security Community’s Vision to 2025, enhancing the ASEAN’s central role, reforming the bloc’s apparatus and working style as well as considering the revision of the ASEAN Charter.
⭕ The meeting is also expected to consider Timor Leste’s proposal to join the ASEAN and countries’ requests to participate in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia or to become official partners of the bloc.-VNA
Senior officials from ASEAN member countries met in Vientiane, Laos on July 22 to discuss the preparation of the agenda and documents for the 49th AMM which is slated for July 23-26.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Vice President Phankham Viphavan hailed the fruitful relations between the two Parties, States, Governments and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos from July 23-26.
Agenda for the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings have been completed, with focus on mapping out orientations for the growth of ASEAN cooperation with partners.
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The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
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Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
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The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
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Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
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International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting opens in Vientiane (Source: VNA)
