By CGTN Mao Dan

Foreign ministers and delegations from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partner states gathered in Manila, the Philippines for the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday morning.

In his opening speech, Philippine Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano said that ASEAN is a platform for dialogue, consultation and confidence building. He also emphasized that the association will work together for regional peace and stability in the future.

Logo of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. /Photo provided by reporter Mao Dan

The FM meeting and sideline conferences will last for four days, including 10+1 meetings on Saturday, and 10+3 meetings on Monday. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will take part in these meetings together with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, where they are going to talk with ASEAN officials on regional development and security.

Officials gathered in Manila for ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. /Photo provided by Reporter Mao Dan

Topics under spotlight during the meeting will include a proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to strengthen the ASEAN market, regional security concerns over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue, endorsement for framework of the code of conduct on parties in the South China Sea, as well as other regional and international issues. 

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to meet on the sidelines of the meetings on Sunday. It will be their first face-to-face meeting since US Congress passed the sanctions bill last week and Russian President Vladimir Putin retaliated by ordering deep cuts at the US diplomatic missions in Russia.