Addressing the meeting, Pham Quang Vinh, head of the Vietnamese high-level delegation in ASEAN emphasized that the meeting is important for delegates to agree on the contents to be submitted to the summit and related meetings.

ASEAN senior officials will approve the agenda for the meetings and discuss issues related to building a strong ASEAN community, and implementing the ASEAN Charter. This will also discuss measures and orientations to strengthen relations between ASEAN and its partners and ensure the central role of ASEAN in the region, as well as cooperation to cope with global challenges and exchange opinions on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

The 17^th ASEAN Summit is the second high-level meeting to be organized by Vietnam this year. In addition to ASEAN members, the summit will also attract many ASEAN’s important partners.

A series of high-level meetings will also be held along with the summit and will include the participation of major players such as Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Nations. The Russian and US Secretaries of State will be attending the event for the first time as “special guests of the Chairman of the Summit”.