ASEAN hails supports, advices from partners

JAKARTA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed supports and advices from its partners for the sake of the bloc's progress, a top official said here on Tuesday.

"We have been much more important and critical to the world. Anything happens here will have far more implication to the global community. But, we know that we still have many unfinished agenda. We know that we can count on your supports, because with your goodwill, we could stand against nature, wind, storm, cyclone, flood and earthquake," ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan told ambassadors of foreign countries to Indonesia in a briefing of post ASEAN and East Asia Summit.

He said that the support is very important as ASEAN will change its revolving chairmanship to Cambodia in 2012, replacing Indonesia's position.

"Next year will be Cambodia (to chair ASEAN). On 21st of this month, I and my deputy have visited Phnom Penh to discuss with the new chair about its priority and agenda and what would be the role that Cambodia expects to play," said Pitsuwan.

He also praised Indonesia's chairmanship during 2011, saying that the country's vision is about the future.