Vietnam will organize two meetings centering on issues related to the East Vietnam Sea between ASEAN countries and China in northern Quang Ninh Province in mid-May, according to Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials’ (SOM) delegation of Vietnam.

The two meetings are part of a series to be held in the northern Vietnamese province between May 15 and 20, Ambassador Ho said at an ASEAN senior officials’ meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on Monday in preparation for the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

They are the SOM ASEAN-China meeting to discuss the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) for the 20th time and the 39th ASEAN-China meeting on the DOC.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China adopted the DOC in 2002.

The two sides are negotiating a Code of Conduct (COC) for the maritime area, and will complete it as soon as possible.

The ASEAN Coordinating Council also held a meeting on Monday to discuss the admission of Timor Leste to ASEAN.

At the meeting, a roadmap draft encompassing requirements to admit Timor Leste to the association was completed.

The draft will be submitted to the 42nd ASEAN Summit for consideration and approval. 

ASEAN reached a consensus on criteria and principles on Timor Leste’s entrance at a series of conferences taking place in Cambodia last year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi for Indonesia on Tuesday morning to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The summit will feature the participation of Timor Lester’s President Taur Matan Ruak for the first time.

At the summit, the leaders of the Southeast Asian countries will enter into discussions to seek effective solutions to back the regional growth amid ongoing global uncertainties, and table the development of the ASEAN community, as well as regional and international issues.

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