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VN ready for ASEAN Presidency

VGP – Việt Nam pledges to spare no effort and gives its priorities and domestic resources to assuming ASEAN presidency in 2010, said PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng while receiving ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

December 23, 2009 7:15 PM GMT+7

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (R) shakes hands with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, Hà Nội, December 23, 2009 – Photo: VGP

ASEAN is one of top priorities in Việt Nam’s external policy, said PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng on December 23, in Hà Nội. 

The host leader stated that Việt Nam wants to play an active and responsible part in ASEAN cooperation for the sake of a solid, united and integrated bloc with higher status in the international arena.

PM Dũng stressed that Việt Nam would allocate adequate resources to chair ASEAN in 2010, the important hinge in the five-year roadmap to build an ASEAN Community in 2015 and marks the 15th anniversary of Việt Nam’s membership in ASEAN.    

The Government chief also took the occasion to seek further supports from the ASEAN Secretary General as well as ASEAN Secretariat for Việt Nam’s fulfillment of its mission. 

To successfully establish the ASEAN Community in 2015, the Vietnamese PM noted that all ASEAN member states should to take actions and put the set goals into reality. Thus, Việt Nam proposes the theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action.”

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (center, right) and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan (center, left), Hà Nội, December 23, 2009 – Photo: VGP

As the ASEAN President in 2010, Việt Nam will pay attention to consolidate solidarity; work with other member states to fruitfully realize plans and programs for cooperation; enforce the ASEAN Charter; speed up the formulation of the ASEAN Community; cement and deepen relations between ASEAN with its partners; and heighten the bloc’s status. 

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan highly spoke of Việt Nam’s role in ASEAN and its preparations for the important mission.

The directions and priorities proposed by  Việt Nam are quite commensurate with ASEAN’s focus, said the guest.  

Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm (R) and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, Hà Nội, December 23, 2009 – Photo: VGP

On the same day, Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm also warmly welcomed ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

Việt Nam stands ready for the ASEAN presidency and wants to strengthen talks with ASEAN and other dialogue partners, said the Deputy PM.  

It is reported that Việt Nam’s ASEAN Presidency 2010 will begin with the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Political Security Community Meeting and the ASEAN Coordination Council Meeting scheduled for January 13-14, 2010 in Đà Nẵng City.

By Thanh Thúy