The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has basically completed priorities and initiatives in 2020 on schedule despite the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, Deputy Spokesman of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duong Hoai Nam has stated.

Deputy Spokesman of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duong Hoai Nam. Photo: Minh Tuan

The 10-nation bloc has completed the Mid-Term Review on the 2025 ASEAN Community Vision, and the review of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, the spokesperson said at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on November 5.

In addition, the association issued the Hanoi Declaration on ASEAN Community Vision 2025, incorporated the subregion development with the common roadmap of building the ASEAN Community for sustainable development goals, and the initiative on building image and awareness of the ASEAN Community.

The spokesperson informed that the ASEAN Covid-19 Response Fund has raised US$10 million from member countries and partners. The regional reserve of medical supplies of ASEAN, the Standard Procedures for Medical Emergency Response, and the ASEAN Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Network for Public Health and new communicable diseases will be launched during the 37th ASEAN Summit.

The 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will be held in Hanoi via video conference from November 12 to 15 and presided over by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the capacity of Chair of ASEAN 2020. These are the most important meetings during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship.

ASEAN member states will hold summits with partners including China, Japan, South Korea, India, the US, Australia and the UN.

Besides, the RCEP Summit, the Mekong-Japan Summit, the Mekong-South Korea Summit, the 10th Summit between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam; and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit will also take place on this occasion.

They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern such as the South China Sea and the North Korean Peninsula.

Under the theme “Cohesive and Responsive,” Vietnam has managed to steer the ASEAN to deal with adverse consequences from the Covid-19 pandemic. The country hosted the 36th ASEAN Summit in June and the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 53) in September, all via videoconference.