Vietnam assumes role of rotating chair of ASEAN Committee in Saudi Arabia

Ambassador Dang Xuan Dung (fifth from right) assumes role of rotating chair of ASEAN Committee in Saudi Arabia (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dang Xuan Dung on December 30, 2022 accepted the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh (ARC) from Thai Ambassador Darm Bootham.

Attending the handover ceremony were Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires of eight ASEAN member countries in Saudi Arabia, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as officials from the ASEAN embassies and their families.

Speaking at the event, the Thai Ambassador summarized the activities of ARC during the time the Thai Embassy held the rotating presidency in order to consolidate and strengthen cooperative relationships and solidarity in the community in general, and between ASEAN and Saudi Arabia in particular.

Taking over the rotating chairmanship of the ARC, Ambassador Dang Xuan Dung congratulated the Thai Embassy and Ambassador Darm Bootham himself on successfully completing his term, highly appreciating the events of the committee in 2022 held by the Thai Embassy, as well as the active contributions of ARC member countries.

The Vietnamese Ambassador affirmed his honor to accept the position of Chairman of the ARC in 2023, and said that he would do his best during his term to promote ARC's activities in the spirit of solidarity and attachment to ASEAN and strengthen the image of ASEAN in Saudi Arabia, promoting cooperation with the host country in all fields, especially in politics, economy and culture.

After the handover ceremony, officials of the ASEAN Embassies in Riyadh and their families participated in the annual ASEAN Family Day to strengthen solidarity and mutual understanding among ASEAN countries./.