Mr Khiem made the statement at an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Retreat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on March 1-2.

The Vietnamese FM said that there should be no regulations to expel or suspend membership from the group, but early warning measures should be made to deal with serious violations of the association’s principles or agreements. He added that ASEAN should further promote relations with its dialogue partners and ensure the group’s leading role in the East Asia cooperation.

Mr Khiem told Vietnam News Agency after the meeting that ASEAN foreign ministers shared the view on new issues, including the implementation of summits’ guidelines on building the charter, the principles of consensus, voting, ASEAN’s approach to the public and the role of the chairman of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Discussing the compilation of the charter, ASEAN foreign ministers agreed that the final draft will be submitted to government leaders ahead of the 13^th ASEAN summit to be held in Singapore this November.  

The charter will be a firm foundation for the Southeast Asian community, providing an enhanced institutional framework as well as conferring a legal personality to the regional group, said Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

The ministers agreed that priority should be given to the foundation of the ASEAN Community which is considered a cornerstone in the East Asia cooperation process and a step toward creating an East Asia Community.

They also agreed to hold the first separate summits with the US and EU later this year to mark the 30^th anniversary of the group‘s dialogue with the two partners. The ASEAN-US summit will be held in Singapore in September, while the ASEAN-EU summit will be held in October or November with a location yet to be decided.   

On the sidelines of the retreat, Mr Khiem had a bilateral meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith. They agreed to organise diverse activities this year to mark the 30^th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Agreement and the 45^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.