Ha Noi, 29 October 2010 - Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the media, it’s a great pleasure to have this opportunity of meeting you, and share some thoughts during my visit to Viet Nam to participate in the ASEAN-UN Summit.

Before I begin, let me say just a few words. Like all of you, I am closely following the Indonesian tsunami situation. The tsunami by now has now claimed the lives of approximately 400 people and the death toll is likely to rise further.

At this time on behalf of the United Nations, I want to express our deepest sorrow and send our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. We stand by the Government of Indonesia at this difficult moment.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have had a very busy and productive morning here in Hanoi. After my arrival yesterday afternoon, I had very good talks with His Excellency the President of Viet Nam and also dinner. I had talks with Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, and with His Excellency Mr. Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of the Communist Party. We discussed Viet Nam’s impressive progress on the Millennium Development Goals, and further cooperation with the United Nations.

Again as I said, I enjoyed dinner last night with His Excellency President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Later today I will address the ASEAN-UN Summit meeting. Let me say that for me this will be a special pleasure. While I have attended many ASEAN-related ministerial and summit meetings in the past in a different capacity, this will my first visit and participation in an ASEAN Summit in my capacity as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

This will be the third ASEAN-UN Summit.

My main point will be the central role to be played by ASEAN in addressing the global challenges we face today; how we can strengthen our partnership in working together in addressing many global and regional issues, as well as development issues.   

Climate change … the food crisis … nuclear disarmament … the fight against poverty and disease. No one country can solve them alone and it is essential that we both broaden and deepen our cooperation.

I have watched ASEAN develop since its earliest days and I believe deeply in its potential for making significant contributions. The ASEAN has made great progress in the past decade, especially. Regional integration has gained pace, including a measured outreach to many more external members and partners.

I can easily imagine a time in the not too distant future when we will see an ASEAN Economic Community, where all nations of the region fully share in the fruits of ever-closer cooperation and growing prosperity.

In partnering with ASEAN, the new report I am presenting today, “Striving Together: ASEAN and the United Nations”, points the way ahead.

I particular I look forward to strengthening cooperation across a broad agenda from development to human rights, from maternal and child health, to a democratic transition in Myanmar.

I expect the summit to map out concrete steps – a plan for common action to advance our shared goals. I would like to see the United Nations and ASEAN work more closely and effectively in preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and I hope that we will have more peacekeepers from ASEAN nations, much as Thailand is now contributing one battalion of forces to the United Nations mission in Darfur.

Our successful cooperation after Cyclone Nargis can be a model for future collaboration. I welcome UN-ASEAN agreement on this issue and look forward to implementing a UN-ASEAN strategic plan on disaster management.

As the recent floods in Pakistan and Thailand illustrate, as well as the recent tsunami in Indonesia, the future will almost certainly bring more extremes of weather.

When it comes to safeguarding our people from the effects of climate change, the time for action is now.

Tomorrow I will also be meeting the Prime Minister of Myanmar, General Thein Sein, to share with him the UN’s hopes and concerns for the coming election. ASEAN and the United Nations agree on the need for a credible democratic transition and national reconciliation in Myanmar.  

It is not too late, even now. By releasing all political prisoners, the Myanmar authorities could help open the way for national reconciliation.

The period after the elections will be especially important …

It is a chance for the authorities to signal that they are open to real change. That they are ready to depart from an untenable status quo.  

The United Nations stands ready to help Myanmar in any way we can, to move forward peacefully to a new era of democracy and development.

Thanks you ladies and gentlemen, I am ready to take your questions.

 

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