ASEAN vows to build united community by 2015

In the Chairman’s Statement, ASEAN leaders said they will speed up implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community through concrete measures and activities, and will cooperate more closely to enhance regional integration and address global challenges. 

ASEAN leaders show their strong commitment to building the ASEAN community by 2015

A statement on sustained recovery and development set forth directions and solutions to boost economic connectivity, combine economic growth with environmental protection, ensure social welfare, develop education and human resources, increase economic and financial cooperation in East Asia and contribute to global efforts toward recovery and sustainable development.

A statement on joint response to climate change underlined ASEAN’s resolve to step up cooperation through specific measures in combination with the plans of action of each member state, and to support global efforts to reach a legally binding international agreement on climate change. The statement encouraged closer cooperation in the Mekong basin and other sub-regions in addressing the issue.

The summit stressed the need to enhance ASEAN’s central role in the structure of an emerging region. To this end, the leaders agreed to foster relations between ASEAN and its dialogue partners using ASEAN-driven frameworks such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

ASEAN leaders voiced strong support for the G-20 framework for robust, sustainable, and balanced growth, and proposed that Vietnam – the current ASEAN chair – and subsequent ASEAN Chairs continue to be invited to the G-20 Summits to share ASEAN’s perspective and experience.
ASEAN leaders met with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to discuss ways of improving cooperation between ASEAN’s executive and legislative branches.

At a press briefing held shortly after the closing ceremony, PM Dung called the summit a great success which charted a course for regional cooperation and development in 2010. As ASEAN Chair, he said, Vietnam worked closely with other ASEAN member states to craft the summit’s initiatives.

He said ASEAN leaders discussed measures to increase infrastructure connectivity for sustainable development in the Mekong River Delta, and applauded the results of the first Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit and MRC member states’ commitments to collaborate closely in using, managing and exploiting the river’s natural resources.

Two other topics on the table at the summit were the situation in Myanmar and implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).