Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Foreign ministerial-level meetings in preparation for the 27th ASEAN Summit and related meetings took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiꦓa, on November 20.

The events included the 17th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council and the 13th meeting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council. At the ASEAN Summit and related events, the regional leaders are expected to sign three documents, including the 2015 Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community, the Declaration on the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the ASEAN Convention to Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Another 20 documents to be adopted relate to many important areas of cooperation within ASEAN and between the bloc and its partners. During their meetings, the foreign ministers reviewed and completed all aspects of the preparation of the agenda, activity programme and documents for the summit and other related meetings. They also spent time discussing regional and global situation, including the East Sea, emphasising that ASEAN should enhance cooperation in dealing with strategic issues in the region, promote solidarity and unity in the community, actively address challenges and work effectively. Speaking at the meetings, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, who led the Vietnamese delegation, stressed that building the ASEAN Community was a continuous and long term process. The grouping should continue to consolidate and deepen the connection in the next stage, he said, suggesting that ASEAN needed to effectively implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and implementation plans on the three pillars of politic-security, economic, and culture-society. Regarding the East Sea, the Vietnamese official urged ASEAN to continue to suggest a common voice and present a proactive role in this regard to ensure peace, stability, security and safety of maritime and air ways. He underlined the adherence to the principles of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and the early completion of a Code of Conduct in the waters.-VNA