The request was made at the third ASEAN-UN Summit that took place in Hanoi on October 29 under the chairmanship of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders from the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, attended the event.

The ASEAN leaders also urged the UN to assist the bloc in accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and enhancing capacity in coping with global challenges, especially those related to energy security, climate change and epidemics.

The two sides agreed to effectively implement the 2011-2012 joint action framework and entrust the ASEAN and UN Secretariats to perform specific measures to realise the target.

ASEAN and the UN also agreed to maintain regular dialogue mechanisms and meetings held on the sidelines of annual sessions of the UN General Assembly.

The ASEAN and UN leaders noted with pleasure recent positive developments in ASEAN-UN relations, the results of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN-UN Cooperation, and particularly the effective coordination in helping Myanmar to overcome the consequences of Typhoon Nargis.

The ASEAN and UN leaders applauded the lifting of the ASEAN-UN relationship to the level of Special Partnership. They also spent time discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two sides unanimously adopted a joint press communique of the third ASEAN-UN Summit.