Vietnam has successfully accomplished its role as Chair of ASEAN 2010, making ASEAN stronger and more united, and bringing the bloc’s members closer to the target of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung, who doubles as Secretary General of the National Committee for ASEAN 2010, quoted the comment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia - which holds the bloc’s chairmanship next year - in an article reviewing Vietnam’s tenure as ASEAN Chair.

The comment was also shared by many other ASEAN member nations, ASEAN’s dialogue partners, the press and scholars both in and outside the region, Vinh wrote.

Looking back at the past year, it could be seen that along with contributions in terms of content to speed up the building of the ASEAN Community, enhance regional connectivity and upgrade ASEAN’s relations with partners to a new level, Vietnam’s organisation of major activities have contributed greatly to its successful tenure.

These moves also promoted the image of a peaceful, stable, cooperative and dynamically developing Vietnam and improve its position and prestige in the regional and international arenas, thereby contributing to the national construction and defence.

In addition to the successful hosting of 15 summits as well as a series of ministerial-level conferences and senior officials’ meetings, Vietnam has put forth initiatives and ideas, and taken the lead in drafting ASEAN important documents and coordinating the bloc’s cooperation operations.

Vietnam held consultations with and harmonised the stances of nations in dealing with emerging regional and international issues, and represented ASEAN to attend a number of regional and international forums, especially the G-20 Summit.

With the motto “careful planning, solemnity, safety, cost-effectivenss and in line with ASEAN practices”, Vietnam smoothly organised all meetings during the year, each of which was attended by thousands of delegates and reporters both at home and abroad.

At the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related summits which took place in Hanoi from October 28-30, Vietnam welcomed 17 heads of state or government from ASEAN countries, ASEAN’s dialogue nations, the UN Secretary General, the ASEAN Secretary General, ministers, senior officials, 2,561 delegates and close to 900 foreign correspondents.

In particular, leaders of nations and the public opinions highly valued the leading role, dynamism and flexibility of Vietnam at the meetings and conferences throughout 2010, Trung said.

Following the accomplishment of the role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term, Vietnam’s successful assumption of the ASEAN chairmanship once again proved that Vietnamese is absolutely capable and ready to integrate into the international community in a dynamic, proactive and responsible way, the deputy foreign minister said in conclusion./.