Le Luong Minh officially assumes leadership of ASEAN Former Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh talks to reporters after a handover ceremony of the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the ASEAN head office in Jakarta, January 9, 2013. Photo: Reuters Vietnamese veteran diplomat Le Luong Minh officially took leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a handover ceremony held at ASEAN head office in Jakarta on January 9. The 61-year-old replaced Surin Pitsuwan from Thailand who headed the organization for five years. In his speech, Minh recalled the moment he first entered the organization’s headquarters on an unofficial visiting trip. “I was impressed by a feeling of solidarity. There were not only national flags of 10 ASEAN members at the lobby but also those of ASEAN’s partners. A feeling of solidarity has turned ASEAN into a proud and strong organization,” he said. The new ASEAN Secretary General drafted his major duties for a five-year term (2013-2017) at the ceremony including an overall plan to build an ASEAN community in terms of politics and security and to continue pushing for negotiations with China to reach a consensus on a code of conduct for the East Sea (COC) based on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), ASEAN six-point Principles with China's policy on the East Sea, and Joint Declaration of ASEAN and China. Minh said that more accessible sources of capital, labor forces, goods and services will bring both challenges and difficulties to 10 member nations and society and culture will play a key role: “Narrowing the development gap between the members is not only an economic goal. Providing good education to the young generation is the best way to help poor countries get out of poverty. That’s why we should care about education,” he addressed. “The next five years would be a crucial and interesting stage. I and other members at the ASEAN Secretariat are willing to work closely with member nations to make sure that we are able to fulfill our commitments and goals,” he concluded his speech. Minh is the first Vietnamese to head ASEAN. Minh was elected to head ASEAN at 21st ASEAN Summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November, 2011. Minh graduated from Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. He used to be head of Vietnam’s permanent delegation at the United Nations. He used to be Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. TuoitreNews