By Dzung Trieu law firm

Together with other ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation regrets that the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-45) in Cambodia failed to issue its joint statement.
Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh was speaking on July 13 in response to Vietnamese reporters’ question on the failure to issue the conference’s joint statement.
The statement is expected to reflect the process of discussion and positive outcomes reached in meetings of ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners, according to Vinh.
During the discussion of the joint statement, ASEAN countries, particularly the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, exerted efforts to find out the most suitable formulas to reflect the common interest of the member nations, and had many chances to reach a consensus and unanimity, Vinh said.
However, the deputy FM said, it is regrettable that the above-said positive, constructive efforts of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and opportunities to reach a consensus were missed.
Vietnam believes whether the joint statement is issued or not, the existing ASEAN decisions still have to be strictly implemented. More than ever, ASEAN countries should uphold their responsibility, maintain and strengthen the ASEAN solidarity, and bring into play the group’s key role in and contributions to prioritised and essential issues of ASEAN and the region, especially the building of the Community, he stressed.
ASEAN needs to promote regional links and connectivity and build an environment of peace, stability, security and cooperation, enhance relations with partners, and effectively cope with emerging challenges for peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region, Vinh added.

VNA