JAKARTA - Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday stressed the highest sense of confidence and purpose achieved by the leaders of participating countries in various meetings to face "the strong wind" in the future.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan speaks to reporters during the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali Nov 15, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Pitsuwan made the remarks at a post summit briefing on the 19th ASEAN Summit and the 6th East Asia Summit.

"We have a high level of confidence going in the right direction, attracting more supports, more attentions and more desires to participate in various mechanisms that we have," said Pitsuwan.

He said that the chair of ASEAN must be given a large credit in pioneering this drive with its network of diplomatic mission around the world.

He also said that one of the most important results in the ASEAN and East Asia Summits on November 17-19 held in Bali was the commitment of 20 participating countries to adopt and accept norms in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).

"In the TAC, every party commits to work together for peace, avoid confrontation and make diplomacy in peaceful means," he said.