Vietnam officially takes over ASEAN Secretary General
(VOV) - Vietnam has officially assumed the post of Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the 2013-2017 term.
A ceremony was held at the headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 9 in which former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan formally handed over the secretary general post to Le Luong Minh, former Deputy Foreign Minister for Vietnam.
Addressing the ceremony, Pitsuwan thanked ASEAN members, especially host nation Indonesia and the ASEAN Secretariat for their cooperation that helped him fulfill all tasks in his capacity as ASEAN Secretary-General.
Pitsuwan reviewed ASEAN’s and the ASEAN Secretariat’s outstanding achievements over the past five years, highlighting their efforts in strengthening solidarity, cooperation and integration within the bloc, and working towards the establishment of a common community by 2015. He stressed that these achievements have enhanced the central role of ASEAN within the region and in shaping the structure of East Asia. He also affirmed the role and status of ASEAN in the international arena, especially amid economic turmoil.
He emphasised the results from close cooperation between partner countries which have improved ASEAN’s profile internationally, a particularly timely development in the current context of economic growth gradually moving from the West to the Asia-Pacific. In addition, it has also helped narrow the development gap between ASEAN’s six original member nations (Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines) and four new members (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar).
Pitsuwan has also affirmed the inevitable path of integration of ASEAN nations towards a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous community.
In his speech, Le Luong Minh expressed his thanks to Foreign Minister Natalegawa and the Indonesian Government for supporting the ASEAN Secretariat and praised Pitsuwan’s active contributions to the regional bloc.
Minh also noted ASEAN’s –accomplishments in becoming a respectedl organisation in the region which strives for cooperation, peace, stability, development and integration and has coped successfully with the many challenges that have arisen in the regional and international arenas.
Minh applauded the achievements made by ASEAN in the fields of politics and security, especially in the implementation of the Treaty of Amity and cooperation in South East Asia, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which have both attracted accolades internationally.
The establishment of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) has also been an important advancement in building and implementing detailed plans of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, he said.
Minh stressed the need to enhance efforts and extend good will between ASEAN and China, highlighting the progress made in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), ASEAN's Six-Point Principles on the East Sea, and the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the DOC.
These forums are expected to finalise the Code of Conduct in the East Sea, ultimately ensuring that ASEAN and East Asia are regions of peace, security, stability and development.
He went on to note the major achievements of ASEAN in the field of economics and integration, the removal of tariff barriers, human rights, poverty reduction and the capacity to cope with natural calamities. He also emphasised the need to fully tap ASEAN’s potential and seize its opportunities and requested that cooperation be strengthened to cope with the upcoming challenges of the bloc and the world.
Minh confirmed that during his five-year term (2013-2017), the ASEAN Secretariat and he will work with member nations to fulfill set targets, including the building of a stronger ASEAN community by 2015.
At the ceremony, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Natalegawa highlighted Pitsuwan’s contributions during his term and wished Minh to fulfill his tasks in his new role.
He expressed belief that having been a diplomat for many years, Minh will manage the ASEAN Secretariat successfully to reap bigger results towards an ASEAN community of peace and sustainable development, one which has played a central role in the region and the global community.