The ASEAN-China meeting is one of a series of meetings between ASEAN and its dialogue partners to take place in Quang Ninh from May 15 to 20, said Ho at an ASEAN SOM Meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.

Among the meetings, he said, will be the 27th ASEAN-Korea Dialogue, the 20th ASEAN-China SOM meeting on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the 39th ASEAN-China joint working group meeting on the DOC.

ASEAN and China reached an agreement on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in 2002. They are now working on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the regional waters, and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in February 2023 agreed to promote the early completion of COC negotiations.

ASEAN leaders will meet in Indonesia from Many 9-11 to examine efforts to facilitate the building of the ASEAN Community and regional integration, as well as to look at Indonesia’s priorities in its role as the ASEAN Chair 2023.

High on the agenda of the summit themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” will be issues related to economy, digital economic development, climate change response, as well as regional and international issues of common concern. In addition, the leaders will also discuss ways to promote the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), focusing on maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development goals, economy and other areas of cooperation.

The leaders will consider a roadmap for Timor-Leste to join the grouping. Timor-Leste will send a representative to the summit this time as an observer.

Source: VOV