Singapore (VNA) – Vietnam will continuecoordination with other ASEAN member states to implement priorities set for2018 towards building a resilient and innovative ASEAN and foster collaborationbetween ASEAN and relevant partners, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

Dung joined foreign officials of the 10 ASEAN countries at the ASEAN SeniorOfficials’ Meeting (SOM) in Singapore on June 5, which focused on cooperationbetween the association and partners as well as preparations for the upcomingevents, including the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in August 2018.

The ASEAN SOM is theopening event for a string of meetings within the ASEAN, ASEAN Plus 3, EastAsia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) that run from June 5-7.

Participants recognisedthe outcomes of the implementation of key and prioritised works, including therealization of an initiative to form an ASEAN Smart City Network, the implementationof ASEAN Law Academy training programme with an aim to enhance regional countries’capacity and harmonise their legal systems, as well as coping with challengessuch as terrorism, violence and extremism.

Alongside, ASEANwill continue implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrate thegoals with the association’s development programmes and plans. At the sametime, with a hope to strengthen communications and improve people’s awareness,participants proposed the implementation of regulations in consular support forASEAN citizens in a third country and set up an award to honour individuals andcollectives with outstanding contributions to ASEAN growth.

On the occasion,they also considered proposals of some countries to join the Treaty of Amityand Cooperation in East Asia (TAC).

They agreed on theneed to continue fostering affiliation with partners, as well as ensure theeffectiveness of existing action plans and programmes, taking advantages of contributionsfor peace, stability in the region and supports to the ASEAN Community building,together with measures to improve cooperation process and forms.

In the coming time,the countries will continue applying renovation in high-level meetings and the ForeignMinisters’ Meeting with partners this year, thus optimizing the time andeffectiveness of the events.

Participants alsodiscussed the possibility of organising a high-level meeting between ASEAN andpartners, including commemorative summits. They also considered the proposal ofsome countries outside the region on establishing partnership with ASEAN, aswell as initiatives to reinforce the EAS.

On the table was the preparations for the24th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting scheduled for June 8 andthe 15th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the implementationof Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (SOM-DOC) slated forJune 27 in Hunan province, China.

The involved parties affirmed ASEAN’s reached principles on the East Sea issue,in which the ASEAN and China must make efforts to fully and effectively carryout the DOC, and will soon finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy FM Nguyen Quoc Dung lauded the cooperativeachievements within the ASEAN bloc and between the ASEAN and its partners fromthe outset of the year.

He noticed recent developments in the East Sea, saying these violated the DOCand affected the progress of COC, and calling on ASEAN countries to enhancesolidarity and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety,and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The nations should be consistent in realising the agreed principles, includingdemilitarisation, and joining hands with China to implement the DOC and build acomprehensive COC in line with international regulations.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dung had bilateral meetings with deputyforeign ministers of the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand,discussing issues of mutual interests.

The ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials’ Meeting and the East Asia Summit will beorganised on June 6.-VNA