Vietnamese diplomat is next ASEAN Secretary

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Luong Minh officially assumed the post of Secretary-General of the ASEAN.

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Luong Minh officially assumed the five-year post of Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this morning.

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Luong Minh

“The ASEAN Secretariat will continue to play active roles in supporting and co-ordinating with member states to help facilitate the establishment of an ASEAN Community,” he said at the Transfer of Office Ceremony held at the ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and outgoing Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan were among the diplomats present at the ceremony.

A veteran diplomat, Minh has worked at the United Nations in various capacities for several years. He served as President of the United Nations Security Council in July 2008 and October 2009.

This is the first time a Vietnamese representative has taken on the post.