Non-aligned movement summit opens in Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) welcomes Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh to to the 17th Summit of the non-aliged movement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gave prominence to the role of the non-aligned movement in the fight for national independence, self-determination, sovereignty, peace and development over the past 55 years.

He called for the establishment of a Secretariat which functions as a coordinating agency of the movement and the 77 developing country bloc (G77).

President Nicolas Maduro also suggested that a bank of countries in the Southern hemisphere should be formed.

ASEAN member countries have agreed to ask the summit to acknowledge recent progresses in Southeast Asia, including the formation of the ASEAN Community.

ASEAN also expressed concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea, especially construction and militarization activities that have eroded trust, intensified tensions, and undermined peace, security and stability in the region./.

By Quang Minh