Vietnam has nominated Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh to the post of Secretary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the 2013-2017 term. 

At a press briefing on August 9, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said the nomination was made at the recent 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Cambodia.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their support for the Vietnamese candidacy and agreed to submit their recommendation at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November for approval, he said.

Once designated, Minh will take over the responsibility of an ASEAN Secretary to promote the bloc’s common goals, especially the establishment of the ASEAN Community.

He will also be responsible for strengthening regional links and fostering relations between ASEAN and its partners, as well as effectively dealing with newly-emerging challenges for the sake of peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region.

(VOV)