ASEAN economic community to come true by 2015

The ASEAN economic community will come true by 2015 as planned, the top ASEAN official has said.

On the sidelines of the 44 th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM-44) in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap on August 28, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Surin Pitsuwan said preparations are on the right track with 70 percent of the work being completed.

He added that it is necessary to further boost this process and overcome obstacles to fulfill ASEAN’s common goals.

The same day, Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Nam Viyaketh said Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have pledged to support new ASEAN members, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam,

Earlier, at the AEM-44 opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the development gap among ASEAN members remains huge. The bloc needs to double its efforts to further promote growth and improve equitable distribution of growth achievements at both national and regional levels, he added.-VNA

📝 OP-ED: Party personnel work requires thorough checks

Officials, Party members, and people are concerned about how the Party will select the leadership capable of shouldering the immense revolutionary tasks entrusted by the history, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said at the first meeting of the sub-committee on personnel affairs of the 14th National Party Congress on March 13.