The COVID-19 pandemic, the East Sea situation, the implementation of the ASEAN Vision 2025, and the early signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will take centre stage at the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

ASEAN Foreign Minister's Retreat held in January 2020 in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa

Within the framework of the event, set to transpire on September 9 via an online platform, there will be the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the 27th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), the 21st ASEAN 3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Coordinating Council’s special session on sub-regional development, the ASEAN ministerial-level dialogue on enhancing women’s role in sustainable peace and security, and a dialogue between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights.

Representing ASEAN Chair 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will chair the meetings.

At the aforesaid meetings, ministers' discussion will be focused on the complex developments of the COVID-19 epidemic in the region and in the world and a range of solutions to cope with the raging pandemic. They will also discuss a score of measures aimed at stepping up cooperation to maintain and promote regional peace, stability and security, including a commitment to maintaining efforts to fully and effectively carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Another noteworthy content is the continuation of the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including directions and initiatives to build a resilient, and creative ASEAN with sustainable development in all aspects in the fast-changing regional and international context. This will be done along with promoting the development of strategies and plans to help ASEAN take advantage of opportunities brought about by Industrial Revolution 4.0.

The 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting meeting will concentrate on the assessment of the RCEP with the aim of strengthening connectivity cooperation, developing sub-regions and building a new approach in narrowing the development gap as well as raising the sense of the community through exchanges and cooperation between organizations and people's associations.

Earlier, at the virtual 10th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting held in June 2020, ministers participating in the RCEP negotiation affirmed their determination to sign the agreement at the RCEP Summit slated for November 2020.