The 15^th ASEAN Summit and other ASEAN summits with partners concluded in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand on October 25.

The closing ceremony made official Vietnam’s assumption of the position of ASEAN President as of January 1, 2010. PM Dung delivered a speech, highlighting orientations and priorities that Vietnam will focus on during its tenure in this important position, affirming that Vietnam will do its utmost to successfully fulfill its duties.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the 4^th East Asia Summit. PM Dung, other ASEAN leaders and leaders from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia affirmed that the East Asia Summit process has made significant progress, becoming a integral part of a new emerging region and helping strengthen regional dialogue and co-operation for peace, security and prosperity in East Asia.

PM Dung emphasised that initial positive results have been achieved in the five priority fields of energy, finance, education, bird flu and disaster management. Participating members should continue to strengthen co-operation in energy and food security, especially in coping with global challenges, such as the negative impact of the global economic and financial crisis, climate change and disaster mitigation, as well as improving environment and preventing diseases, Mr Dung said.

PM Dung agreed with other East Asian leaders that countries should further boost co-operation in education and training to serve the knowledge economy and effectively cope with global challenges. He expressed his hope that partners will help ASEAN countries in the field. He stressed that strengthening educational co-operation must be combined with improving people’s awareness on disaster mitigation, environmental protection and disease prevention. Vietnam hopes that participating members will support the establishment of an environmental education centre for the East Asian region in Vietnam, Mr Dung said.

Mr Dung highlighted an important role of ASEAN and emphasised that close coordination among ASEAN member countries will create a favourable foundation for the dynamic development of the East Asia Summit.

*** On October 25, participating national leaders witnessed the signing of the ASEAN framework agreement on preferential taxes and exemptions, memoranda of understanding on the establishment of the ASEAN-China Centre and agreements on intellectual property and harmonising technical standards.