VN to kick off year of ASEAN chairmanship

VGP – Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm, Chairman of the National Committee for ASEAN 2010, has just okayed the Plan to kick-start Việt Nam’s Year of ASEAN Presidency and organize three meetings slated for January 13-15, 2010 in the central city of Đà Nẵng.

December 28, 2009 6:21 PM GMT+7

The three meetings will mark the start of the Year of ASEAN Presidency 2010, namely the 3^rd ASEAN Political-Security Council (APSC) Meeting, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, and the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting (AMM Retreat).

ASPC will prioritize specific activities and instruments to guarantee regional peace and security. APSC meetings are a new mechanism, opened under the ASEAN Charter, with the participation of Foreign Ministers.

At the ACC Meeting, Foreign Ministers will focus on preparations for the 15^th ASEAN Summit and the related summits. They will also review the implementation of decisions made by the 14^th Summit, the construction and realization of the ASEAN Charter.

AMM is the most important annual meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers. The 42^nd AMM Retreat was convened in Phuket, Thailand, under the theme "Acting together to cope with global challenges."

By Phương Hạnh