The National Committee for ASEAN 2010 held a press conference launching Vietnam’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2010 in Hanoi on Jan. 7.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Permanent Secretary General of the Committee Dao Viet Trung highlighted main objectives during the term, saying that as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam will host two summits and many ministerial and senior officials’ meetings this year.

As ASEAN chair, Vietnam will also actively propose initiatives, oversee bloc policies, coordinate cooperation among ASEAN members, and represent ASEAN in regional and international forums, he said.

In line with the theme “Towards ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action,” Vietnam will focus on priorities strengthening solidarity and connectivity among ASEAN members, implementing the ASEAN Charter and roadmaps to build the ASEAN Community and maintaining the group’s role and position in the region as well as in the world, Deputy Minister Trung said.

Vietnam always considers cooperation with ASEAN as a strategic priority and important point in the country’s external policy, he stressed.

Being aware of ASEAN’s strategic importance to Vietnam, the country has participated in ASEAN actively and responsibly, contributing to building a closer and stronger ASEAN connectivity, he said.

Regarding challenges in the chairmanship year, Pham Quang Vinh, head of Vietnam’s ASEAN senior official delegation, said despite global obstacles like the economic crisis, climate change, food security and diseases that affect the region, Vietnam should actively contribute to implementing ASEAN’s goals of building the ASEAN Community, including the politic-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars./.