VietNamNet Bridge - The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, is scheduled to make his first official visit to Vietnam on 28-30 October to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.

During his stay the Secretary-General will meet with President Nguyen Minh Triet, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem.

The Secretary-General will attend the ASEAN-UN Summit on 29 October and will also meet with UN staff working in Vietnam.

As one of the pilot countries for the UN reform programme on “Delivering as One”, the Secretary General’s visit will highlight Vietnam’s progress in country-level UN reform efforts and aid harmonization. The visit will also highlight Vietnam’s advances toward fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Secretary-General plans to visit a project related to these goals.

The Secretary General’s visit to Vietnam is part of an extended trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

PV