Vietnamese ambassador named new Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN
Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Duc Binh at the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) has been selected as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs for the February 2021 - February 2024 period.
Jakarta (VNA) - VietnameseAmbassador Tran Duc Binh at the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN(CPR) has been selected as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community andCorporate Affairs for the February 2021 - February 2024 period.
At the 27th meeting of the ASEAN CoordinatingCouncil on September 9, ASEAN foreign ministers agreed on Secretary-General LimJock Hoi’s proposal on appointing Ambassador Binh as the new DeputySecretary-General.
Earlier, the diplomat had outperformed nearly 20candidates from other ASEAN countries in several tests.
On the sidelines of the online 53rd ASEANForeign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 53) and related meetings, ASEAN DeputySecretary-General Hoang Anh Tuan told the Vietnam News Agency that theselection of Ambassador Binh to the post reflects ASEAN countries’ trust in hisknowledge and capacity for handling complex tasks, with him having performed exceptionallyas CPR Chair this year when Vietnam is holding the ASEAN chairmanship.
As Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN forCommunity and Corporate Affairs, Binh will be responsible for theimplementation of corporate support functions, including administrationaffairs, human resources, finance and budget, information technology,information resource management, protocol and formalities, legal affairs, andmanagement of cooperation programmes and projects.
With this latest posting, Vietnam will continuallyhave representatives in leadership positions in the ASEAN Secretariat betweenJanuary 2013 and February 2024: Secretary-General Le Luong Minh (January 2013 -January 2018), Deputy Secretary-General Hoang Anh Tuan (February 2018 - February2021), and now Deputy Secretary-General Tran Duc Binh (February 2021 - February2024)./.
Vietnam’s admission to ASEAN on this day 25 years ago opened up a new chapter in its cooperative relations with other Southeast Asian countries, Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, said in an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Jakarta.
Under Vietnam’s chairmanship, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has effectively implemented cooperation and connectivity targets, while overcoming difficulties to earn initial successes in preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, and embarking on efforts for post-pandemic recovery, said Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN.
The ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee held an online consultation with dialogue partners and other partners on August 26 under the chair of Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of Vietnam’s delegation to ASEAN.
The Vietnamese permanent mission to ASEAN on August 28 hosted the 11th ASEAN Connectivity Symposium on “Enhancing ASEAN Cohesiveness, Responsiveness through Resilient Connectivity and Human Capital Development.”
Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN and Chair of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), chaired the third Monitoring, Review and Evaluation (MRE) Meeting for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, which was held virtually on September 8.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Indonesia ranks as the world's sixth-largest gold reserve holder, producing an estimated 160 to 200 tonnes annually, mainly through major state-owned enterprises. Despite this, much of the mined gold is held or traded abroad. In 2024 alone, Indonesia exported gold worth 5.4 billion USD while reimporting 2.6 billion USD worth of the metal.
Cambodia and Thailand vowed not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions, including entering the other side’s air space and territory, and refrain from constructing or enhancing military infrastructure.
Trenggono emphasised that the Indonesian government aims to increase the total coverage of MPAs to 97.5 million hectares by 2045. This initiative forms a key component of the “Golden Indonesia 2045” vision, which prioritises sustainable maritime development and environmental protection.
Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Duc Binh (Photo: VNA) 
