Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Igor Driesmans has appreciated Vietnam’s efforts in hosting the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings amid unprecedented challenges.

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said the US has long been a friend to ASEAN countries, stressing the US stands with ASEAN partners in combating COVID-19 and enabling regional economic recovery.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh frankly expressed concerns over recent complex developments and serious incidents in Bien Dong Sea, which have gone contrary to international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), violated the legitimate rights and interests of littoral countries, intensified tensions, and undermined peace and security in the regional water.