Key decisions made at 17th ASEAN Summit
ASEAN leaders on October 28 discussed several important issues on ASEAN’s affairs and relations with its partners and adopted a number of important documents.
When reviewing the roadmap for an ASEAN Community, they were delighted at the bloc’s achievements. They also agreed to step up the implementation of agreements, to utilise various resources, and integrate regional agreements in each nation’s development plan.
ASEAN leaders approved a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and appointed a committee to speed up its implementation. They highlighted efforts by ASEAN economic ministers to form an ASEAN infrastructure fund. These decisions enhance links within ASEAN as well as with East Asian countries.
They also approved a Declaration on Human Resources and Skills Development for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth and the Hanoi Declaration on the Enhancement of Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children. In addition, the meeting also discussed ways of dealing with challenges such as food and energy security, climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics.
ASEAN praised their partners’ contributions to dealing with regional issues and agreed with its East Asian partners to invite Russia to the East Asian Summit from 2011.
The bloc will give the forthcoming G-20 Summit in Seoul a message about how to ensure sustainable development, raise the role of newly-emerging economies, and restructure the global financial system.
On the same day, ASEAN heads met with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to boost cooperation between ASEAN businesses and enhance intra-ASEAN connectivity and sustainable development.