New Year, New Chair – Viet Nam Assumes ASEAN Chairmanship
ASEAN Secretariat, 1 January 2010
Viet Nam today assumes the Chairmanship of ASEAN. Viet Nam, having received the torch from its predecessor, Thailand, will play the role of ASEAN Chair until 31 December 2010.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2010, Viet Nam would focus on working with the other ASEAN Member States to expedite the implementation of various agreements, plans and programmes – particularly the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) – enhancing relations between ASEAN and its friends and partners and heightening the prominence of the region.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, said that he was impressed with the preparation made by Viet Nam in taking on the ASEAN Chairmanship. “The new Chair has a clear set of priorities and agenda which are useful as an implementation and support guide for ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other external parties,” he added.
Annual sectoral plans, which have been prepared by Viet Nam well in advance, will be handy for stakeholders to know what support to provide and how to mobilise resources. The plans outline a detailed work programme for each ministerial body with clear objectives, activities, goals and targets in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community.
Dr Surin added, “I would like to express my appreciation to Thailand for their excellent Chairmanship in 2009 and welcome Viet Nam as the new Chair for the year ahead. My colleagues at the ASEAN Secretariat and I look forward to working closely with Viet Nam.”
Viet Nam’s theme for their Chairmanship is “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”.
The year 2010 marks the 15th year of Viet Nam’s accession to ASEAN.
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