1. Workshop on Network Security for ASEAN Chief Information Officers, Ha Noi, 15-17 March 2006
2. Singapore President S R Nathan visits the ASEAN Secretariat, 21 March 2006
   

Workshop on Network Security for ASEAN Chief Information Officers
Ha Noi, 15-17 March 2006

Chief Information Officers from ASEAN Member Countries met during a three-day workshop from 15-17 March 2006 in Ha Noi to explore ways to enhance security in information network.

Co-organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telematics of Viet Nam, the ASEAN Secretariat and Microsoft Corporation, the workshop brought over twenty-five officers and experts from ASEAN countries, Australia, China and the Republic of Korea who are responsible for network security to discuss the key issues and identify new information security threats being faced in the region and their possible solutions.

To strengthen the security of information and networks in the region, the participants called for more multi-stakeholders involvement to address issues in all aspects of the information ecosystem such as cross border information sharing, trust, capacity building as well as raising public awareness.  This would facilitate the efforts of ASEAN Computer Emergency Response Teams in addressing cyber security challenges in the region.

The workshop was part of ASEAN’s action to accelerate the Ha Noi Agenda on Promoting Online Services and Applications to realize e-ASEAN and the ASEAN ICT Focus 2005 – 2010. It also aimed to encourage closer and productive relationships between the public and private sectors through a sharing of resources, knowledge and training in the areas of network and information security, as well as ICT development and the deployment of online services and applications.

President S R Nathan of the Republic of Singapore arrived at the ASEAN Secretariat to a warm welcome on the morning of 21 March 2006. The President’s visit to the Secretariat was part of his state visit to Indonesia from 19-23 March 2006. He was met by Ong Keng Yong, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, and introduced to several Jakarta-based ASEAN Ambassadors, the Director-General of ASEAN-Indonesia and representatives of the ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC).

President S R Nathan arrived at the ASEAN Secretariat

As 2006 has been designated as ASEAN Environmental Year, secretariat officials briefed the President on ASEAN’s initiatives on the environment, and disaster management and emergency responses. The one-hour visit concluded with a tour of the ASEAN Gallery where the President presented a bronze sculpture titled ‘Harmony’, a work of Singaporean sculptor Sun Yu Li, to be placed in the ASEAN Gallery.

President S R Nathan met with the representatives
of the ASEAN Women's Circle (AWC)

President Nathan is the third head of state/government to visit the ASEAN Secretariat in the past five years. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines visited in January 2002 and November 2001 respectively.