ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting held online

(Bqp.vn) - The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM) was held online in Hanoi on June 22. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM, chaired the event.

At the online meeting, ASEAN officials reviewed preparations for the 36th ASEAN Summit. They stressed that despite difficulties caused by COVID-19, the bloc will stay consistent with its goals and principles, striving for a united and open ASEAN Community with rules-based regional architecture.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung updated the gathering on progress in launching priorities and initiatives during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. He also reaffirmed ASEAN’s cooperative spirit, close coordination with partners in the fight against COVID-19, and post-pandemic recovery.

Discussing on the current situation, he highlighted the need to raise a sense of responsibility, maintain peace and stability, and prevent unilateral action that could further complicate the situation, towards successfully curbing the pandemic.