On 24 October 2007, AIT President Said Irandoust together with Professor Vilas Wuwongse, Vice President for External Relations met with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General Designate. The meeting provided us with an opportunity to formally convey on behalf of AIT, our congratulations to Dr. Surin on his appointment as the next ASEAN Secretary General, which will take effect from January 2008, and to update him on some of the Institute's recent activities.
Dr. Surin knows AIT very well and also served as a speaker at one of the Institute's past graduation ceremonies. He is fully supportive and realizes the need for a new AIT Charter, and offered to assist AIT in strengthening its linkages with ASEAN member countries / institutions and in further promoting AIT as an implementing arm of ASEAN for capacity building initiatives in the region. Dr. Surin acknowledged the important role played by AIT and will also help promote AIT with other bodies and associations aside from ASEAN through his linkages and associations whenever feasible.