(VOVworld) – Vietnamese diplomat Le Luong Minh on Wednesday officially assumed his new post as ASEAN Secretary General for a 5-year term. Outgoing ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa joined more than 200 guests, including diplomats and journalists at a ceremony in Jakarta, the headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat. In his inauguration speech, Minh emphasized his priorities and duties:  Despite many challenges ahead, I fully believe that ASEAN will emerge in triumph. The ASEAN Secretariat will continue its active role in helping member states to build an ASEAN community by 2015. Technical assistance in cooperation activities and consultation will be enhanced to realize initiatives and achieve the outcomes we desire. The Secretariat will promote policy implementation towards building three pillars: politics-security, economics, and socio-culture with priority given to national and regional cooperation.

Newly inaugurated ASEAN Secretary General, Vietnamese diplomat, Le Luong Minh

Minh was the sole nominee for ASEAN Secretary General, receiving the full support of ASEAN leaders at the 21^st ASEAN summit last November. ASEAN principles stipulate that its 10 members will alternate being nominated for the position. This is the first time a Vietnamese representative has assumed the post.