Vietnam to assume ASEAN Chairmanship in early November

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh  addresses the fourth meeting of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee  (Photo: VNA)

Minh made the request at the fourth meeting of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee in Hanoi on October 18, during which he urged members of the committee, sub-committees and Secretariat, ministries and agencies to place priority on tasks regarding ASEAN Chair Year 2020, noting that it is both the responsibility and benefit of the country and people.

The major focus of the 4th meeting is to review the entire series of tasks that have been implemented and need to be further accelerated in the coming time, particularly the implementation of an overall project on Vietnam’s assumption of ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 and detailed plans on agenda, logistics, reception, communications – culture, security and health care.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the committee Nguyen Quoc Dung reviewed work done by sub-committees and the Secretariat in the recent past, particularly tasks devised at the third meeting.

He underlined the need to finalize the website of the ASEAN Chair Year 2020, the communications plan and major activities for the year, including a ceremony to hand over the role of the ASEAN Chairmanship, a ceremony to launch ASEAN Chair Year 2020, and ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.

On the occasion, the sub-committee on communications and culture and the ASEAN Secretariat 2020 launched the logo and identity of ASEAN Chair Year 2020 as adopted by the committee, which will be also introduced to ASEAN member states and partner countries at the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, set to take place in Thailand from October 31 – November 4.

The Deputy PM agreed with the Secretary-General's proposal for more work to be done, especially the important activities during the ASEAN Chair Year 2020, which will be held in Vietnam in early 2020. He also noted with appreciation for the initiatives proposed by relevant ministries and agencies which are required to pay greater attention to more investment in the initiatives, thus bringing about long-term values for ASEAN and Vietnam.