Deputy Prime Minister,Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee,ASEAN Colleagues,Ladies and GentlemenI am very happy indeed to offer my congratulations today to our Cambodian colleague, Foreign Minister, Hor Namhong, and to the government and people of the Kingdom.

Cambodia has a great contribution to make to ASEAN and we are very pleased that its people are joining us in regional partnership, practical cooperation and, above all, in the friendship which binds as fellow members.

In welcoming our new partners, I would also like to thank our hosts in Vietnam for the great efforts they have made to bring us all together to attend this very fine ceremony.

As well as this, may I express my appreciation to those of our colleagues who represented us so well in the many hours of meetings and discussions which preceded today's event.

Lastly, I would like to present my warmest respects to King Norodom Sihanouk and say how much we appreciate all His Majesty has done for his country in helping to bring about this very special moment in its long and proud history.

Deputy Prime Minister,
Mr. Chairman,

Our association now comprises all the nations of Southeast Asia so this is a unique occasion.

However, it takes place in one of the most difficult periods of ASEAN's history. Each of us as individual members has our own way of responding to the challenges facing this region and of undertaking the many economic, social and political tasks required of us by our people.

Nevertheless, from today, we have an opportunity to enhance these efforts as friends and partners because, for the first time, we will be representing the whole of Southeast Asia.

This was the hope of our founding fathers all those years ago and consequently, although there is an enormous amount of demanding work ahead, this is certainly a moment to savour. We are no longer the "dominoes" about to fall over, as once predicted. To paraphrase a line from a classic film of that period .......... "Now we are ten!"

It is a good feeling and I am delighted to be here to enjoy the pleasure of being together as a truly united region.

Thank you.