ASEAN Coordinating Council holds third meeting in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh presides over the meeting

Addressing delegates at the event, Deputy PM Minh stressed that this marks the third time the ASEAN Coordinating Council has convened a meeting this year, serving to demonstrate its important role in promoting the regional grouping’s cooperation schemes.

The Government leader went on to thank delegates for their active contributions during previous meetings, noting how ASEAN members have worked closely together in an effort to overcome the challenges caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Vietnamese diplomat added that the third meeting is to review ASEAN cooperation programmes implemented over the previous five months and examine preparations ahead for the 36th ASEAN Summit which is scheduled for June 26. Delegates are to make an in-depth analysis of the results of the special ASEAN and ASEAN + 3 meetings held in response to the COVID-19 outbreak which took place earlier this year.

During the meeting, ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi spoke highly of the results achieved by ASEAN since its 35th Summit held in November 2019, in all three pillars of the Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community, all of which contribute towards the goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2025.

The Secretary General maintained his opinion that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN has still held plenty of important meetings in an attempt to meet its political, economic, and social goals under the chairmanship of Vietnam.