After Singapore, Vietnam is the second ASEAN member country that has its own Ambassador to ASEAN.

Ambassador Vu Dang Dung presented the credential to ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

On February 19, the Vietnamese Ambassador to ASEAN, Vu Dang Dung, presented the credential of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem to the ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan welcomed Vietnam as the second country to appoint its Ambassador to ASEAN.

He emphasized the important role of Vietnam in the association and praised Vietnam’s positive contribution to strengthen unity and cooperation inside ASEAN for common goals.

In the context of the global economic crisis, Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries’ establishment of its permanent representative delegation to ASEAN and putting the ASEAN Permanent Representative Committee into operation will help further unity and cooperation in ASEAN.

In 2010, Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship. 2010 will mark the country’s 15^th ASEAN membership.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 14^th ASEAN Summit in Huahin, Thailand form February 28 to March 1.

Xuan Linh