Introductory Remarks by H.E. Ong Keng Yong
Secretary-General of ASEAN
The ASEAN Lecture 2007
Singapore, 7 August 2007

The Honourable Prime Minister of Singapore,
Honorable Ministers
Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2007 ASEAN Lecture - held here in Singapore as we mark ASEAN’s 40th birthday.

This is the fifth ASEAN Lecture. The idea in 2003 was that each year, an eminent person would be invited to deliver the Lecture on ASEAN’s Anniversary Day, on any subject of his or her choice.

The Lecture is held outside the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta at least every other year to give more exposure to ASEAN throughout our ten Member Countries. Previous speakers included then President of Indonesia, Her Excellency Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2003, then Prime Minister of Viet Nam His Excellency Phan Van Khai in 2004, the President of Indonesia His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2005 and Prime Minister of Malaysia His Excellency Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006.

The Lecture is envisioned as a platform to bring wider attention to long-term strategic issues of vital importance of ASEAN. This process will enhance ASEAN’s role in regional solidarity, cooperation and development.

Singapore has assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN earlier this month. This year is an exceptional one for ASEAN. The ASEAN Charter will be signed at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November 2007. I am confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, ASEAN will achieve even greater success.

We are very privileged indeed to have Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong deliver the 2007 ASEAN Lecture. Through this auspicious and prominent occasion, ASEAN will be brought closer to the people of Southeast Asia.

Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.

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