Hanoi (VNA) - Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)highlighted the need to maintain unity and promote a central role amid acomplicated geopolitical context at a virtual meeting on June 8.

Atthe ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) hosted online by Cambodia, ASEAN 2022Chair, the member states reviewed preparation for the 55th ASEAN ForeignMinisters' Meeting slated to be held from July 30 to August 6.

Thedelegates also highlighted their commitment to maintaining cooperation torealise the priorities and initiatives of ASEAN 2022 while expressing theirdetermination to complete the development of the ASEAN Community and Post-2025Vision.

Theyalso discussed measures to narrow the development gap and recognise vaccinepassports among the member states.

ASEANcountries also updated the progress in cooperation between the bloc and itspartners and agreed to continue to expand the relationship with partners.

Amida complex geopolitical context, delegates highlighted the need to maintainsolidarity and unity and promote the central role in the regional securitystructure.

Discussinginternational and regional issues, the countries emphasised that ASEAN shouldcontinue to promote its role in assisting Myanmar to find a possible solutionto the current crisis by promoting the effective implementation of the 5-pointconsensus.

Regardingthe situation in Ukraine, the countries expressed concern about the continuedmilitary tension and negative consequences of the conflict on peace, security,stability and common development of the world and the region.

Theyexpressed their support for the settlement of international disputes bypeaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Charter and internationallaw.

Regardingthe East Sea, the countries reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance. They agreedto conduct activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the 40th anniversary ofthe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) in2022.

AmbassadorVu Ho, acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, emphasised that ASEAN needed tohave a holistic approach to ensure a unified, objective and balanced voice inthe context that ASEAN has to deal with many complicated international andregional issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Myanmar, the KoreanPeninsula and the East Sea.

Themeeting of the Executive Committee of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon FreeZone (SEANWFZ) Commission was held on the same day.

ASEANcountries reaffirmed the importance of the SEANWFZ Treaty, considering it a keydocument, demonstrating ASEAN's commitment and common stance in maintainingnon-nuclear weapons Southeast Asia region.

Atthe meeting, the delegates also reviewed the implementation of the TreatyAction Plan for 2018-22 and prepared for the SEANWFZ Committee Meeting in earlyAugust./.