The 16th meeting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council and the 20th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting took place in Manila, the Philippines, on November 12, in preparation for the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings.


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Delegates to the 20th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting 



Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, joined the foreign ministers of the ASEAN member states in these meetings.

At the APSC council meeting, participants heard ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh’s report on cooperation in the political-security pillar as well as the council’s work this year.

They appreciated the implementation of 80 percent of works of the APSC Master Plan and admitted several existing shortcomings, including limitations on resources and coordinating work.

Amid complicated regional and international situations affecting ASEAN, delegates stressed the need for the bloc to continue strengthening unity, consultations and consensus, and promote the central role in contributing to peace, security and development in the region and the world.

They also reaffirmed the stance and principles agreed during the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in August, especially in issues of mutual concern such as counter-terrorism, Rakhine state, Korean Peninsula and the East Sea.

During the 20th ACC Meeting, participants discussed the final preparations for the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings slated for November 13-14 in Manila.

They emphasised the necessity to foster ASEAN connectivity and comprehensive and inclusive growth, narrow development gap, and ensure the ASEAN Community building process brings about basic and practical benefits for all people.

They congratulated Vietnam on successfully completing its role as the APEC Chair in 2017, while speaking of the country’s initiative of holding ASEAN-APEC Informal Dialogue as this was a good chance for ASEAN to expand its relations with partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

At this meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan was appointed to ASEAN Vice Secretary General in charge of political-security affairs from February 2018 to February 2021.

Speaking at the events, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung suggested ASEAN put the connectivity quality and efficiency on top, implement measures to serve people’s practical demand, facilitate development of businesses, and promote sustainable growth.-VNA