Asahi Shimbun: What are Vietnam's priority matters for the ASEAN Development Fund?

FM Nguyen Dy Nien: The decision of ASEAN Leaders at their 10^th Summit in Vientiane to establish the ASEAN Development Fund reflects ASEAN's strong commitment to successfully realize the goals toward building an ASEAN Community. The ADF is expected to serve as an important tool to pull ASEAN's own resources for the implementation of the Vientiane Action Plan and some other important cooperation programmes and projects of ASEAN. This will help promote ASEAN's sense of ownership in regional cooperation projects and ensure the sustainability of ASEAN development initiatives.

Vietnam welcomes the establishment of the ADF. We are of the view that the ADF funds should be managed and utilized effectively to serve the set targets, first and foremost, to successfully implement the VAP. The use of ADF funds should be focused and should adhere to ASEAN's high priorities, especially in areas where external funding support is limited. Besides, for the continuity of the ADF, we highly value any form of contribution from external sources, both public and private. I believe that our dialogue partners will understand the importance of ADF to the realization of ASEAN's goals and will provide their strong support to those projects financed by ADF. It is our hope that the ADF will be able to function as the major pool of resources for ASEAN's future cooperation schemes.

Asahi Shimbun: What should be the pillars of ASEAN Charter?

FM Nguyen Dy Nien: ASEAN Charter will be one of the most important document of ASEAN. When established, it will serve as a firm foundation to strengthen our unity, enhance our intra-cooperation, raise ASEAN legal status and lift up ASEAN's posture in the region and the world at large. It will chart out the future directions, major objectives, fundamental principles and basic institutional structures of ASEAN towards the goal of achieving an ASEAN Community, based on three pillars: ASC, AEC and ASCC by the year 2020 and beyond.

So far, ASEAN has traversed a journey of 38 years. From 5 founding members, ASEAN has now become a strong and cohesive association embracing all 10 countries in Southeast Asia. In this regard, it is our view that the establishment of the Charter should be based on what have been attributed to ASEAN's successes and strength so far. These include the fundamental principles such as non-intervention and decision making by consensus and the ASEAN way. ASEAN will not be a supranational organisation, nor a military alliance or a defense pact.

Vietnam will work closely with other ASEAN member countries in the building of the ASEAN Charter.

Asahi Shimbun: What does Vietnam expect from the attendance of the U.S Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice in the ASEAN Regional Forum?

FM Nguyen Dy Nien: As far as I am aware of, Dr. Rice will not attend the ARF this year and Mr. Zoellick, the Deputy Secretary of States will lead the U.S delegation to the meeting. Here I don't want to talk on the implication of Dr. Rice's absence to ASEAN, as my colleagues and I have here and there already mentioned the matter. I understand that the U.S have always attached importance to the ARF and has been an active member of the Forum from the beginning. We welcome Mr. Zoellick to the ARF meeting in Vientiane and hope that the U.S delegation under his leadership will continue to make important contributions to the success of the Forum.

Asahi Shimbun: Should the United States of America be granted an observer status of the East Asia Summit?

FM Nguyen Dy Nien: The question of having an observer or an invited guest at the East Asia Summit has not been officially discussed among ASEAN. Vietnam will follow ASEAN's consensus on this matter. As I know, so far the US has also given no application for that status to ASEAN.

Asahi Shimbun: What are the issues that Vietnam would raise in the East Asia Summit?

FM Nguyen Dy Nien: The East Asia Summit is an event of great significance for countries in the East Asian region. Vietnam is now working closely with other ASEAN members and the Plus Three countries to make all the necessary preparations for the Summit. As this is the very first East Asia Summit to be held, it is expected to set the major directions for the development of a region-wide scale framework in East Asia. Together with our ASEAN colleagues, Vietnam will contribute ideas and initiatives that aim to lay the ground for the enhancement of a wider-scale regional cooperation and the promotion of the East Asian identity, toward an East Asia of peace, friendship and prosperity in the future./.