Jakarta (VNA) – Representatives of ASEAN member countries and UN officialsreviewed the implementation of projects and cooperation activities within theASEAN-UN Plan of Action for 2016-2020, during their annual meeting on September15.

Thevirtual meeting between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN andUN officials was co-chaired by Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of theVietnamese mission to ASEAN, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Politicaland Peacebuilding Affairs Khaled Khiari.

Thedelegates commended major development steps in the ASEAN-UN comprehensivepartnership, with regular meetings at different levels, and the completion of97 out of 103 action lines set in the action plan.

Thesecooperation activities cover the three pillars of politics-security, economy,and culture-society, as well as experience exchange in narrowing the developmentgap and enhancing connectivity in ASEAN, and improving the capacity of theASEAN Secretariat.

Theysaid most of cooperation plans in politics-security and economy have beencompleted ahead of schedule, especially in the areas of the UN’s strength likepeacekeeping, the settlement of natural disaster consequences, gender equality,economic integration, narrowing the development gap, and sustainabledevelopment.

Theyspent much time discussing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic both regionallyand globally.

TheUN backed initiatives of ASEAN and Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, and wishedto further aid the bloc in realising its post COVID-19 recovery framework,assisting refugees in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, and handling other issuesregarding women, peace, security, climate and cyber security.

ASEANand the UN agreed to advance their comprehensive partnership, and committed toclosely coordinating in implementing the 2016-2020 action plan and completing adraft action plan for the next five years that will be submitted to theASEAN-UN Ministerial Meeting in October for approval.

TheUN will continue to send experts to help ASEAN improve its capacity in thecombat against terrorists and cross-border crime, and other spheres like cybersecurity, human rights, women empowerment, economic integration, energysecurity, food, forest protection and support to micro, small and medium-sizedenterprises.

Thetwo sides consented to join hands in implementing goals of the 2030 Agenda on SustainableDevelopment Goals, humanitarian aid, natural disaster settlement, climatechange, education and health care, and step up collaboration between theirSecretariats./.