Mr Khiem was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 43^rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-43), the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with dialogue partners, and the 17^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), in Hanoi on July 23.

The ministers supported the determination to expedite the effective implementation of the “ASEAN Community Roadmap” and desire to promote “a culture of compliance” with all ASEAN agreements.

They discussed a first draft of the “Masterplan on ASEAN Connectivity”, which will provide a framework for strengthening ASEAN cooperation and building an EU-like community.

“We will continue to consider the revised draft before submitting it to the 17^th ASEAN Summit,” said Mr Khiem.

He commended the efforts of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to finalise a five-year “Work Plan”

The ministers reaffirmed the role of the AICHR as an overarching institution for regional cooperation on human rights and the need for the commission to ensure effective dialogue and cooperation on peace, stability and prosperity in the region, he said.

“In pursuit of a people-centred community, we agreed to develop a master communication plan synergising all communication plans in three pillars in order to enhance our people’s awareness and participation in the community-building process,” said Mr Khiem.

Earlier at the 17^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), participants reiterated their support for regional cooperation and dialogue and stressed the importance of regional peace and stability. They also affirmed their support for the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

ARF participants expressed their support for ASEAN’s central role and welcomed its efforts to promote deeper cooperation within Southeast Asia and dialogue with Russia and the US. They hailed the convening of the first ASEAN Defence Ministers’ “Plus with Eight Dialogue Partners” in 2010, which underscored the importance of the planned ASEAN senior defence officials’ meeting.

Delegates discussed political developments in Myanmar and the country’s “Roadmap for Democracy” ahead of the upcoming general election. They reiterated the importance of holding fair and free elections, which they said would pave the way for Myanmar’s long-term stability and development.

They stressed the need to maintain peace, security and stability in the East Sea, and reaffirmed their support for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the conclusion of a “Regional Code of Conduct in the East Sea”. .

ARF participants adopted the Hanoi Plan of Action on the implementation of the “ARF Vision Statement”.

On July 23, ASEAN Ministers attended the signing ceremony for the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation by Canada and Turkey. They also signed the third protocol allowing EU accession.