VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has nominated Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh as ASEAN Secretary General in the 2013-2017 term, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi.

Mr. Le Luong Minh and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Nghi said at a press briefing last week that at the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 45), Vietnam nominated Minh as the next Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), replacing Mr. Surin Pitsuwan, former Thai Foreign Minister, whose term will finish later this year.

According to Nghi, ASEAN FMs voiced support for Vietnam’s nomination and agreed to submit it to the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November 2012 for approval.

He said that if appointed, Minh would overtake the post of ASEAN Secretary General in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the Association’s regulations; uphold the role and responsibility of the ASEAN Secretary General towards ASEAN common goals, especially of promoting community building, strengthening regional connectivity, enhancing relations between ASEAN and partners and effectively tacking emerging challenges in favor of peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region.

Minh was born in 1952. He was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister in December 2008.

Since February 17, 2004, he has been Vietnam's ambassador to the UN in New York City. He held this office from 1995 to 1997 for the UN institutions in Geneva and as a deputy in New York City from 1997 to 1999. He was the President of the United Nations Security Council in July 2008 and October 2009.

Linh Thu