Lao Ambassador Ekkaphab Phanthavong (Photo: VNA) Phanthavong will support the ASEAN Secretary General in the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint 2025, lead the ASCC Department of the ASEAN Secretariat and oversee the realisation of ASCC projects, focusing on establishing a common identity and building a caring and sharing society.
He will serve a three-year term, from 2021 to 2024.
Prior to assuming the post, Phanthavong was Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of Laos to ASEAN for the 2018-2021 tenure. He was also Deputy Director-General of the ASEAN Department at the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pursuant to the ASEAN Charter, the Secretary General will be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries General who have nationalities different from that of the Secretary General and come from four different ASEAN member countries.
Two Deputy Secretaries General are nominated by ASEAN member states on a rotational basis for a non-renewable term of three years while two others are openly recruited for a three-year term which may be extended for another three years. Phanthavong is one of the two nominated Deputy Secretaries General.
Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Duc Binh took office as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs at a ceremony in Jakarta in February./.
VNA
