V

ietnamese diplomat Hoang Anh Tuan has officially taken office as the new deputy secretary-general for political security community, reports the ASEAN website.

Prior to assuming the position on Friday, Tuan served as the ambassador to Indonesia and was accredited as non-resident ambassador to Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

Tuan also held various positions in Vietnam’s foreign ministry such as the minister counselor at the Vietnam Embassy in Washington from 2007 to 2010.

As a researcher, he worked for various think-tanks from Norway, Denmark, Singapore and Sweden, publishing research papers on Vietnam’s foreign policy, politics and security in Southeast Asia and the United States and China’s policy towards East and Southeast Asia.

According to the ASEAN Charter, the deputy secretary-general — a three-year position — will support ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi in implementing the ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint and strengthening relations with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the international community.

The charter also stipulates that ASEAN’s secretary-general will be assisted by four deputy secretary-generals of different nationalities from the secretary-general and will come from four different ASEAN member states.