Your Royal Highness,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we are privileged to witness another event of great significance in the history of ASEAN and Southeast Asia - the Special Admission Ceremonies for the Kingdom of Cambodia, the tenth full member of our Association in keeping with the Decision of the Sixth ASEAN Summit held in Hanoi last December. This fulfills the idea born more than 30 years ago of an ASEAN embracing all Southeast Asian countries, living in harmony and striving for a Southeast Asia of peace, stability and prosperity.

On behalf of the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I would like to convey to His Excellency Mr. Hor Namhong, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia and members of his delegation our most sincere and warmest congratulations.

Following the admission of Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar into ASEAN, today's Admission Ceremonies for the Kingdom of Cambodia constitute a new milestone in the development of our Association. With this, gone forever is the dark period when our region suffered long years of shame as colonial countries. Gone also is the period when division and hostility prevailed in our region. Now, at the threshold of the new millennium, Southeast Asia is able to live in independence, self-reliance, unity and cooperation for the prosperity of each country and of the whole region.

ASEAN is now facing major challenges and many of its members are coping with the most serious economic and financial crisis since the inception of the Association. It is precisely at this moment when our efforts are focussed on revitalizing the once ASEAN miraculous vibrant growth that we are more conscious than ever of one truth, that is only in unity can we quickly tide over the crisis and jointly build a Southeast Asia of durable peace, stability and close cooperation for development.

Today, we greatly rejoice at the important achievements recorded by our Cambodian friends along the path of national reconciliation, restoration of peace, national building; and regional integration. As a matter of fact, the Kingdom of Cambodia is no stranger to our ASEAN family. As early as July 1995, Cambodia became an ASEAN observer. Many Cambodian officials have participated in attachment programmes at the ASEAN Secretariat and attended various ASEAN meetings. Today's admission is a natural outcome of a process of thorough preparation. We are fully confident that Cambodia will be able to make worthy contributions to the strengthening and development of our Association. We hope that ASEAN membership would enable the resourceful Cambodian people who built the brilliant Angkor civilisation to enter a new stage of stability and sustainable development.

Once again, I wish to offer my most sincere congratulations to the Government and people of Cambodia on the occasion of this historic event. May I wish His Excellency Mr. Hor Namhong and other members of the delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia the best of health and happiness and we look forward to a close cooperation with His Excellency and others in the common endeavours for ASEAN's lofty objectives of unity and cooperation for a Southeast Asia of peace, stability and equitable development.

Thank you all.