Le Luong Minh sets priorities as ASEAN new chief
(VOV) – Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh has been appointed ASEAN Secretary General for the next 5-year term. Speaking to reporters at the end of the 21st ASEAN summit in Cambodia on Tuesday, Le Luong Minh pledged to do his best. "To successfully carry out tasks, ASEAN needs a peaceful and stable environment. The Secretary General needs to speed up the formation and implementation of the code of conduct amidst sea and island disputes in the region. In that context, it is very important to abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), swiftly build the Code of Conduct (COC) and implement the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty so as to maintain peace and eliminate threats to stability in the region", said Mr. Minh.
Minh was approved by the leaders of ASEAN member countries at their 21st summit in Cambodia this week to succeed incumbent Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan. He was nominated to the post at the recent 45th ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Cambodia in July. The new Secretary General will take office on January 1st, next year.