Paying a visit to Vietnam to discuss the priorities and the action programme of ASEAN in 2010, the ASEAN General Secretary expects Vietnam to play a leading role next year.

ASEAN General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan.

“Vietnam has many friends and allies in the world, a wide network. ASEAN will benefit from that broad network of partners of Vietnam, Pitsuwan told the press on December 22.

He believed that with its political stability, and strong and dynamic economic growth, Vietnam will make a great contribution to the development of ASEAN in general and enable the grouping to reach its targets.

“Many countries appreciate Vietnam’s development and they see Vietnam as an example to learn from: a country with the powerful leadership party, an open, dynamic competitive and effective economic environment. You both maintain security and political stability while ensure the mechanism for economic development,” the ASEAN Secretary General said.

Pitsuwan noted that, with its development experience and goodwill, Vietnam will play an important role in linking and abolishing the gap between the old and the new ASEAN, enhancing the region’s integration.

“We don’t want a divided ASEAN, because of the Mekong River or the economic gap,” he said.

Regarding Vietnam’s holding the ASEAN presidency in 2010, Pitsuwan said he hopes it will put forward initiatives and play a leading role in making ASEAN better known around the world. The Secretary General hoped that 2010 will be a good year for ASEAN and Vietnam will have many initiatives and show its leadership in ASEAN.

This is the first time an ASEAN Secretariat has paid an official visit to the country that will chair ASEAN in the following year and this is the first time an ASEAN country has set up a national committee to prepare for its year of ASEAN chairmanship.

During his two-day visit to Vietnam starting on December 22, Pitsuwan will meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem and the ministers of Industry and Trade, Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

PL