The 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-43) opened in Hanoi on July20 in the presence of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
In his opening speech, PM Dung said that the meeting istaking place as ASEAN enters a new stage of development, moving towardsthe creation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, operating under the ASEANCharter.
“ASEAN is making every effort and using allits resources to achieve the objectives set out in the plans for anASEAN Community,” said the PM.
“The association isalso striving to further its external relations and expand cooperationwith its partners to facilitate the ASEAN Community and effectivelyrespond to global challenges while maintaining the Association’s centralrole in addressing regional issues,” he noted.
TheVietnamese leader stressed that the achievements recorded to date areenormous and of great significance. However, much remains to be done torealise the ASEAN Community’s goals of being a community that ispolitically harmonious, economically integrated and sociallyresponsible.
PM Dung went on to say that thismeeting coincides with the celebrations of the 15 th anniversary ofVietnam joining ASEAN. Since Vietnam has been a member of ASEAN,the country has rapidly integrated into and positively contributed tothe Association’s development.
“We are very happyand proud that Vietnam has joined with other ASEAN members to laydown a firm foundation to bring the ASEAN Community to life by 2015,”said the PM.
Being an integral part of the ASEANfamily, it is Vietnam’s policy to be “proactive, positive andresponsible”, which will contribute to a strong and closely integratedASEAN at the heart of the region.
He added: “Duringour ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010, we have been doing our utmost to workclosely with other member states and record tangible outcomes in theprocess to build an ASEAN Community.”
PM Dung saidhe believed that at this meeting, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN andtheir partners will have fruitful and constructive discussions, work outhow to step up cooperation in various fields, address political andsecurity issues and cope with emerging challenges in the region and theworld.
Following the opening ceremony, the ASEANForeign Ministers attended a plenary session.
Priorto the AMM-43 and other related meetings, PM Dung hosted a reception forthe heads of the ASEAN delegations and ASEAN Secretary GeneralSurin Pitsuwan.
He told his guests that the meetingis very important for the ASEAN community as well as for Vietnam asit holds the bloc’s chair.
The PM thanked the ASEANleaders, the Foreign Ministers and the bloc’s Secretary General forhelping Vietnam to organise the ASEAN Summit in April 2010, sayingthat the Foreign Ministers contributed greatly to the summits success.
In its capacity as ASEAN chair, Vietnam attendedthe G20 Summit in Canada and highlighted the group’s viewpoints,which were applauded by the international community, he said.
The Vietnamese PM gave a briefing on Vietnam’s socio-economicsituation in the first half of the year and said that, with itsresponsibility as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam will make great efforts torealise the motto “Towards the ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action”as agreed upon by the ASEAN leaders.
The PM said hehoped that the ASEAN leaders and Foreign Ministers would continue towork with Vietnam to ensure the successful creation of the ASEANCommunity./.
In his opening speech, PM Dung said that the meeting istaking place as ASEAN enters a new stage of development, moving towardsthe creation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, operating under the ASEANCharter.
“ASEAN is making every effort and using allits resources to achieve the objectives set out in the plans for anASEAN Community,” said the PM.
“The association isalso striving to further its external relations and expand cooperationwith its partners to facilitate the ASEAN Community and effectivelyrespond to global challenges while maintaining the Association’s centralrole in addressing regional issues,” he noted.
TheVietnamese leader stressed that the achievements recorded to date areenormous and of great significance. However, much remains to be done torealise the ASEAN Community’s goals of being a community that ispolitically harmonious, economically integrated and sociallyresponsible.
PM Dung went on to say that thismeeting coincides with the celebrations of the 15 th anniversary ofVietnam joining ASEAN. Since Vietnam has been a member of ASEAN,the country has rapidly integrated into and positively contributed tothe Association’s development.
“We are very happyand proud that Vietnam has joined with other ASEAN members to laydown a firm foundation to bring the ASEAN Community to life by 2015,”said the PM.
Being an integral part of the ASEANfamily, it is Vietnam’s policy to be “proactive, positive andresponsible”, which will contribute to a strong and closely integratedASEAN at the heart of the region.
He added: “Duringour ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010, we have been doing our utmost to workclosely with other member states and record tangible outcomes in theprocess to build an ASEAN Community.”
PM Dung saidhe believed that at this meeting, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN andtheir partners will have fruitful and constructive discussions, work outhow to step up cooperation in various fields, address political andsecurity issues and cope with emerging challenges in the region and theworld.
Following the opening ceremony, the ASEANForeign Ministers attended a plenary session.
Priorto the AMM-43 and other related meetings, PM Dung hosted a reception forthe heads of the ASEAN delegations and ASEAN Secretary GeneralSurin Pitsuwan.
He told his guests that the meetingis very important for the ASEAN community as well as for Vietnam asit holds the bloc’s chair.
The PM thanked the ASEANleaders, the Foreign Ministers and the bloc’s Secretary General forhelping Vietnam to organise the ASEAN Summit in April 2010, sayingthat the Foreign Ministers contributed greatly to the summits success.
In its capacity as ASEAN chair, Vietnam attendedthe G20 Summit in Canada and highlighted the group’s viewpoints,which were applauded by the international community, he said.
The Vietnamese PM gave a briefing on Vietnam’s socio-economicsituation in the first half of the year and said that, with itsresponsibility as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam will make great efforts torealise the motto “Towards the ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action”as agreed upon by the ASEAN leaders.
The PM said hehoped that the ASEAN leaders and Foreign Ministers would continue towork with Vietnam to ensure the successful creation of the ASEANCommunity./.
