Monday, January 5, 2009

Singapore appoints envoy to the ASEAN

Jakarta : Singapore Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Lim Thuan Kuan, on Monday presented his credentials to the ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan during a ceremony at the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.

Singapore became the first ASEAN member countries to appoint a permanent representative of the secretariat said in a statement.

The ASEAN Charter, which took effect on December 15, 2008, requires all 10 member states to appoint a permanent representative with the rank of ambassador to be based in Jakarta.

The representatives, who form the Committee of Permanent Representatives, are responsible for supporting the work of the ASEAN Community Councils, coordination with the national secretariats of ASEAN and other countries of the ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial and contacts with the block of the Secretary-General and the Secretariat.

"We are pleased with Ambassador Lim," said Pitsuwan.

"I am convinced that his experience in the affairs of the ASEAN will contribute significantly to ASEAN community building efforts currently underway. I hope that the rest of Member States will continue their representatives in the ASEAN very soon."

Lim formerly served as ambassador of Singapore to Vietnam.

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