Activities within the framework of AMM-59 and related conferences take place from July 20 - July 24. On July 21, ASEAN Foreign Ministers had their second working day with the opening ceremony, plenary session and narrow meeting of AMM-59, along with an expanded informal consultation session on the implementation of the 5-Point Consensus on Myanmar.
Previously, on July 20, a dialogue session took place between ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Southeast Asia Regional Nuclear Weapons Denuclearization Treaty (SEANWFZ) Committee Meeting in Manila, Philippines.
Authorized by Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang - Head of ASEAN ASEAN Vietnam, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the meetings.
Speaking at the Dialogue session with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR), Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that Vietnam values the role of AICHR in promoting human rights cooperation in the region; emphasizing that this is an inter-sectoral and inter-pillar task, requiring a comprehensive approach and close coordination between AICHR and specialized agencies. The Deputy Minister also emphasized that, in the process of operation, AICHR needs to closely follow and comply with the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, as well as ASEAN regulations, procedures and principles, to ensure human rights cooperation is implemented in the spirit of trust and mutual understanding.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang affirmed Vietnam's commitment, after being re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, to continue to pursue priorities, including human rights in the context of climate change and digital transformation, gender equality and the rights of vulnerable groups, and at the same time wishes to cooperate closely with ASEAN countries to have a voice and make stronger contributions to international human rights cooperation.
At the SEANWFZ Conference, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang expressed concern about the increasing strategic instability and the increasing role of nuclear weapons in national security doctrines, eroding strategic trust and increasing the risk of arms race and nuclear proliferation.
In that context, the SEANWFZ Treaty demonstrates the common determination of Southeast Asian countries to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, minimize nuclear risks and aim for the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons, thereby making practical contributions to regional and international peace and security. The Deputy Minister requested ASEAN to fully and effectively implement the Action Plan, not only in activities contributing to international peace and security but also to strengthen cooperation on nuclear safety and incident response capacity.
Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang also proposed that ASEAN strengthen its role and contribute to efforts to disarm and not proliferate nuclear weapons globally by establishing consultation relations and deepening cooperation with other nuclear-free zones, thereby exchanging experiences and raising common voices in promoting nuclear disarmament, minimizing strategic risks and complying with international norms on non-proliferation.
Previously, on July 19, a meeting of Senior Officials prepared for AMM-59 took place. At the conference, countries basically agreed on the program of activities, the agenda and the process of completing the content of documents to submit and report to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for consideration or recognition, through this occasion, including the draft Joint Communiqué of the AMM-59 Conference, Joint Ministerial Statements with a number of partners and new phase action plans between ASEAN and partners.
