The Vietnamese government has decided to hold cultural events and activities to celebrate the 40th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Upon the government's approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Information are in charge of organizing the events, including launching an ASEAN section on TV, and holding an ASEAN gastronomy fair and artistic photo exhibitions, according to local newspaper Youth on Thursday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is expected to make speech on TV on Aug. 8.

The ASEAN will turn 40 on Aug. 8, 2007. Throughout the year, its 10 members -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- will organize different events and activities to commemorate the anniversary with the official theme "One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia."

A seminar on "Opportunities in Trade and Investment in ASEAN" will be held in March in Thailand, an ASEAN film week in May in Indonesia, and a stamp exhibition on ASEAN in August in the Philippines.

Source: Xinhua