Hanoi (VNA) – Representatives from over 20 ministries and sectorsgathered at a meeting in Hanoi on December 14 to review the ASEAN cooperationin 2016 and orientations for the time to come.

Theregular meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, who isalso the Head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Vietnam.

Participantsunderscored the significance of 2016 as the first year after the formation of theASEAN Community, implementation of the ASEAN Vision 2025 and master plans onthe three pillars of the Community, as well as the recent achievements the blochas made.

ASEANhas promoted the compilation and ratification of action plans and work plansfrom 2016-2020; the building of a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity2025 and the third-phrase implementation ofthe Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to assist Cambodia,Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (CLMV) countries; facilitation of the bloc’s diplomaticrelations; and enhancement of the operation effectiveness of the ASEANdepartments and ASEAN Secretariat. 

In2016, Vietnam continued to participate fully and fulfilled its commitments andmade effective contributions to the bloc in all cooperation fields, reflectingin the joint efforts to implement the ASEAN Vision 2025 at all levels;promoting the bloc’s solidarity, unity and central role in addressing majorchallenges in the region, particularly the East Sea issue; fulfilling thecoordination role in ASEAN – India relations; and actively supporting Laos's2016 ASEAN Chairmanship.

Theyear 2017 will mark the 50th founding anniversary of the association and 10thsigning anniversary of the ASEAN Charter in the complicated and unpredictablechanges in the region and the world.

Participantsagreed that Vietnam needs to promote its active role in promoting the ASEANcooperation, with focus on implementing the programmes and plans to develop theASEAN Community 2025 on three pillars to create driving forces for the bloc.

Thecountry will work with the Philippines on the agenda of the ASEAN Chair 2017,such as building the people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN Community;empowering women, children, immigrant workers and facilitating the youths;promoting comprehensive development via supports for small- and medium-sizedenterprises.

Thedelegates held that Vietnam must accelerate the full and effectiveimplementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and early finalisation of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.

Vietnamneeds to contribute to developing ASEAN diplomatic relations in a more intensiveand practical manner, by continuing its role as coordinatingcountry of ASEAN – India relations, and successfully hosting the meetingto mark the 25th anniversary of ASEAN – India ties.

Effortswill be made to better the performance of cooperation mechanisms in the ASEANframework and between the bloc and its partners, while strengthening theconnection among ministries, sectors and localities in ASEAN cooperation.

Vietnamwill actively participate in and organise activities to celebrate the 50thfounding anniversary of the bloc at home and broad, thus to promote theidentity of the group and its benefits.-VNA