Mr Khiem said that Vietnam is prepared to fulfill all tasks in its capacity as ASEAN President in the early days of next year and asked the ASEAN Secretary General and the ASEAN Secretariat to share information with Vietnam, enabling it to accomplish all targets set for 2010.

Next year, Vietnam and ASEAN should enhance dialogues and cooperation in dealing with issues of common concern, promote mutual trust and understanding among member countries and increase the operational efficiency of ASEAN and related forums such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, ARF, EAS for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and world, said Mr Khiem.

He also underlined the need to make joint efforts in coping with challenges such as the global economic downturn, climate change, the environment, natural disasters, epidemics, terrorism, trans-national crimes and sea security.

ASEAN should enhance links along with narrowing the developmental gap by effectively implementing the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

On the occasion, Dr Surin Pitsuwan and his delegation also met with PM Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Kim Ngan.

At the meetings with some Vietnamese ministries, the ASEAN Secretary General highlighted Vietnam’s role in ASEAN cooperation while expressing his hope that with political stability and a dynamic economy, Vietnam’s international role will be increasingly significant in the future.

 The ASEAN Secretariat will work closely with Vietnam in 2010 to make Vietnam’s presidential term a successful contribution to the association’s common success, said Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

The ASEAN Secretary General is on a visit to Vietnam from December 22-24 to compare notes with Vietnamese agencies on priority areas in 2010 and prepare for Vietnam’s assumption of the ASEAN Presidency next year.

The Year of Vietnam’s 2010 ASEAN Presidency will begin by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Political Security Community Meeting and the ASEAN Coordination Council Meeting scheduled for Danang City from January 13-14, 2010.