Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dao Viet Trung told a press briefing in Hanoi on March 30 that the leaders will discuss measures to strengthen solidarity and further integration, effectively implement the ASEAN Charter and blueprints to build an ASEAN Community, and how to expand cooperation with ASEAN partners. They will exchange their views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The leaders are expected to approve two statements: one on recovery and sustainable development, and the other on coping with climate change.

For the first time, there will be a plenary session between ASEAN leaders, ministers and the heads of the three ASEAN communities: politics-security, economics, and culture and social affairs, to show their determination to speed up the creation of a united ASEAN community by 2015 based on the ASEAN Charter.

Mr Trung said top priority will be given to forming the ASEAN economic community to create a single market to facilitate the exchange of goods and the development of investment, services, capital and human resources.