PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, his wife and the Vietnamese Government delegation at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters - Photo: VNGOP

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng asserted that over the past glorious four decades, ASEAN's greatest success is to realize the founders' idea about an association of all ten Southeast Asian nations. The formation of ASEAN-10 and its internal cooperation have helped the members consolidate and stabilize their security as well as promote socio-economic development. These are also essential precises for ASEAN to deepen linkages in the next stages.

The Vietnamese PM emphasized that, in the context of rapid changes in the region and the world, ASEAN is doing its utmost to build up the ASEAN Community by 2015 based on three major pillars: Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-cultural Community, with its legal foundation of the ASEAN Charter which is now under compilation.

“Entering the new stage and its adulthood, ASEAN should have a far-seeing and daring prospect, proactively carry out necessary renovations, inherit and develop the values which have brought about the present successes”, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stressed.

The PM confirmed that, as an indispensable part of ASEAN, Việt Nam has been taking part in the Association's cooperative activities, contributing to the construction of a united and powerful ASEAN with an increasingly-raised role in the international arena.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was convinced that, with its 40-year history and experience, ASEAN will succeed in forming the ASEAN Community as desired.

Previously on the same day, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and the Vietnamese Government delegation had laid a wreath at the Monument dedicated to Indonesian national heroes; visted the Vietnamese Embassy, and had a meeting with some CEOs from Indonesian economic groups and companies.

At 10.45 AM of August 9, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his entourage wrapped up their official visit to Indonesia and started the Philippines tour at the invitation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo./.

By Xuân Hồng