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A meeting of senior ASEAN officials (SOM) wrapped up in Vietnam ’s central city of Da Nang on Jan. 13.
This is the first conference that took place under the chairmanship of Vietnam . The country takes its turn as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2010.
Representatives from all 10 ASEAN member countries reviewed the preparations for the forthcoming ASEAN ministerial meetings and reached consensus on the agenda, action programmes and documents to be presented to ministers.
At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat, FMs are scheduled to discuss and give opinions to the building of the ASEAN Community and the bloc’s external relations.
The third conference of the ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Council will focus on discussions of new developments in the APSC’s cooperation and implementing a master plan on building the APSC.
A meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council will consider documents on the high-level group regulation on connecting ASEAN and issues of the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
ASEAN senior officials put forward proposals on a number of issues on ASEAN cooperation and its external relations and finalised documents to be presented to ASEAN FMs for consideration.
Assistant to Vietnamese FM and Head of senior ASEAN officials Pham Quang Vinh, who is also the chair of the meeting, affirmed the importance of the ASEAN FM meeting in defining orientations for ASEAN cooperation in 2010.
He also shared his view with his ASEAN colleagues on a number of Vietnam ’s priorities to promote ASEAN cooperation and linkage during its one-year term as ASEAN Chair.
He took the occasion to highlight SOM’s well preparedness and affirmed that Vietnam will closely work with other ASEAN members to successfully implement this year’s targets.
The conference also heard Vietnam ’s arrangements on ASEAN FMs’ land trip from Thailand to Laos through the Lao Bao border gate to former imperial city of Hue and then Da Nang in Vietnam to attend the three meetings.
This will be the first land trip of ASEAN FMs on this occasion to promote the idea of connecting ASEAN and promote sub-Mekong region cooperation and its potentials.
On the evening of Jan. 13, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, hosted a banquet in honour of other ASEAN FMs.
Deputy PM and FM Khiem will also chair the third APSC meeting, a special meeting of the ACC and the ASEAN FMs Retreat in Furama resort of Da Nang city on Jan. 14.
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