The chief of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called on Asian countries to jointly nominate a candidate for the post of managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The ASEAN Secretary General, Mr. Surin Pitsuwan has said, as the leading engine of global economic growth, Asia needs to assert itself in the way international institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF operate.Thai newspaper Bangkok Post on Friday quoted the ASEAN chief as saying that Asia is now a major contributor to the IMF and it is the time for Asian nations to step forward in finding a new IMF chief candidate. Mr. Surin said developing countries represent about 42 percent of the contributions to the IMF compared with the nearly 30 percent Europe and the United States each contribute. He said Asia should assert its claim to the position now or it might be too late.