The 34^th ASEAN Summit and related meetings officially began in Bangkok on June 20 with the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR).

Members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN pose for a group photo (Source: VNA)

During the CPR meeting, Ambassadors of Southeast Asian countries to ASEAN discussed contents in preparation for the 23rd meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) and the 34th ASEAN Summit, to take place on June 22 and 23.

The 34^th ASEAN Summit will have the theme of “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”. According to deputy director general of the Department of ASEAN Affairs under the Thai Foreign Ministry Usana Berananda, 17 documents to be acknowledged or endorse this time all share the central concept of sustainability.

Meanwhile, director general of the Department Suriya Chindawongse said that under Thailand’s leadership, there will be a focus on building a people-centred ASEAN community “that leaves no one behind and looks to the future".

He said the expected outcome of the summit will be a declaration of ASEAN leaders’ vision for sustainability along with a plan of actions to address the problems of maritime pollutions and the drafting of a framework of ideas regarding the Indo-Pacific concept.

To ensure security for the series of meetings, Thailand has mobilized about 10,000 police to patrol districts in central Bangkok. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant agencies to ensure that the ASEAN Summit will be held smoothly in all respects, without temporary closures to road traffic. He chaired a meeting on preparatory work for the event on June 20.

(Source: VNA)