Vietnam took over the chairmanship of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to ASEAN from Thailand at a ceremony at the bloc’s secretariat headquarters in Jakarta on Jan. 6.

The term of the CPR Chair will last one year, in line with that of the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam's Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Ambassador Vu Dang Dung pledged to continue close cooperation and coordination with CPR members to implement the committee’s tasks in 2010.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan witnessed the turning over of the chairmanship and committed his full support to the work of the CPR, saying that "with the cooperation, intervention and mediation of the CPR, the results of our efforts in building the ASEAN Community will be met quicker."

Pitsuwan also reiterated his appreciation of the high level of preparations that Vietnam had shown in assuming the ASEAN chairmanship.

The secretary general had recently visited Vietnam to meet the nation’s leaders to discuss how the ASEAN Secretariat can support Vietnam's chairmanship in 2010.

The CPR, which was established in 2009 upon the enforcement of the ASEAN Charter, aims to support the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and the ASEAN professional ministerial bodies. It is also designed to liaise with the ASEAN Secretary-General on ASEAN-related issues./.