Vietnam assumes post of ASEAN Secretary General

The ceremony was attended by the outgoing Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan, Indonesia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa, and representatives from the diplomatic corps, international organisations and academies.

In his exit speech, Pitsuwan highlighted ASEAN and the Secretariat’s achievements in the last five years, especially their efforts in strengthening the intra-bloc solidarity, cooperation and integration towards the establishment of a community by 2015, consolidating the central role of ASEAN in the region, and affirming the role and position of the bloc in the international arena.

Addressing the ceremony, Minh praised Pitsuwan’s dedication and contributions, and expressed his gratitude to Natalegawa and the Indonesian Government for their continued support to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Minh highlighted the need to intensify efforts and goodwill from both ASEAN and China on the basis of progress achieved to ensure that ASEAN and East Asia are a region of peace, security, stability and development.

The new Secretary General confirmed he and the ASEAN Secretariat are prepared to work closely with the ASEAN member states to deliver major commitments and objectives.

Speaking at the ceremony, Natalegawa expressed his appreciation for the contributions and activities by Pitsuwan as the ASEAN Secretary General. He also said he believes that Minh would lead the Secretariat to more important achievements.

Minh’s five-year tenure will end on December 31, 2017. His appointment was formally endorsed by the ASEAN leaders at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in November 2012.

The 10 member countries of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.