Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed that Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member of ASEAN, especially during the development of the ASEAN Economic Community.

On March 7, he met economic ministers from the association’s member countries and its Secretary General Le Luong Minh, who are in Hanoi for the 19 th ASEAN Economic Ministers ’ Retreat and related meetings from March 6-9.

The PM expressed his hope that the economic ministers will foster cooperation for a successful ASEAN Community, and the elevation of economic, trade and investment links among the association’s member nations and between ASEAN and other countries.

On the occasion, Dung congratulated Brunei for taking the position of ASEAN Chair in 2013, and affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to support the country.

The economic ministers highly valued Vietnam ’s role in the association and applauded the country’s achievements in all fields during the past years.

The ministers and Secretary General Minh asserted that they will continue their efforts and coordinate closely to fulfil the association’s set targets, especially the successful building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) comprises of 10 member countries, including Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.-VNA