Annual ASEAN Meeting concentrates on important issues
VNGOVNet – The Association of South East Asian Nations convened its Ministerial Meeting Retreat on March 1-2/2007 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Deputy PM, Foreign Minister Phạm Gia Khiêm headed the Vietnamese delegation. This is an annual ASEAN meeting to discuss big issues within the Association and design orientations for its operation in different fields.
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At the meeting, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers focused on the realization of decisions made by the ASEAN-12 Leaders, especially setting up the ASEAN Charter and dealing with some issues related to the Association’s internal cooperation and external relations.
The ministers agreed to hold a senior meeting between ASEAN and some dialogue partners, including the US, Canada and EU on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the tie establishing. They also considered the proposals of some countries outside the region to apply for full dialogues, field dialogues or observers of ASEAN. The Meeting discussed on the East Asia cooperation and agreed to prioritize the formation of the ASEAN Community which will be the core for the East Asian cooperation process. The ministers gained a consensus on the ASEAN standpoint which will be mentioned in the 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting hold on March 15-16/2007 in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Addressing the retreat, Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm stressed that the ASEAN Charter should reaffirm the Association’s basic goals and principles, especially those on non-intervention and consensus. The Vietnamese Deputy PM stated that there should be no regulations to expel or suspend membership, but it is possible to warn early against serious violations of the Association’s statutes or agreements. He also added that ASEAN should further its relations with dialogue partners and maintain ASEAN’s leading role in the East Asia cooperation process.
On the sidelines of the Meeting, Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm had a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith. The two leaders agreed to carry out many activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Friendship Treaty and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic tie establishment between Vietnam and Laos. They also mentioned and shared their viewpoints on some issues within ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation.
By Hoàng Nguyên Hồ
