Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi informed his ASEAN counterparts on Vietnam’s preparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings at a conference on October 27.

ASEAN Ambassadors to South Africa pose for a photo at the conference on October 27
(Photo: VNA)

He informed the Ambassadors of seven ASEAN countries in South Africa about the planned working programme, working agenda and a list of documents to be submitted to ASEAN leaders on the occasion.

Loi, who is also Chair of the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC), stressed that Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, is doing its best to ensure the success of the 37th ASEAN Summit.

He announced that South Africa will sign the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) on the occasion of the 37th ASEAN Summit, with the signing to be held online in Cape Town on November 10. The same day, Cuba will also sign the TAC with the ASEAN.

All ASEAN Ambassadors in Pretoria shared the view that Vietnam has done well not only in logistical preparation for the summit, but also in actively proposing and promoting priorities and initiatives during the year it is Chair of the bloc. They said substantial results achieved during the year had contributed positively to the building of the ASEAN Community.

Singaporean Ambassador Chua Thai – Keong said Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, has also effectively promoted the ties between ASEAN and other regions in the world, as seen in the upcoming signing of the TAC between ASEAN and South Africa.

The ASEAN Ambassador in South Africa also discussed the working programme of the APC in the time ahead, including the organization of activities to welcome the 37th ASEAN Summit.

They examined the pandemic situation in the host country and shared pandemic prevention measures undertaken by their respective diplomatic missions.