17th Summit lays firm foundation for ASEAN’s development

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasised this at a press conference after the Summit’s closing ceremony on October 30. He answered numerous questions by foreign and domestic questions regarding Vietnam’s contribution to ASEAN as the bloc’s Chair and maintaining ASEAN’s central role in East Asian Cooperation.

The PM affirmed ASEAN leaders determination to accellerate the fomation of an ASEAN Community. He said ASEAN leaders agreed to use mutually agreeable  measures to build the community in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.

They also approved a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and the ASEAN declarations on Human Resources and Skills Development for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth and on the Enhancement of Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children.

The foreign ministers also adopted an ASEAN Declaration on Cooperation in Search and Rescue of Persons and Vessels in Distress at Sea.

The approval of important documents, in line with the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC). reflects ASEAN’s effort to build a people-oriented Community, said Mr. Dung.

The leaders agreed to strengthen ASEAN connectivity, ensure the bloc’s centrality in an evolving regional architecture, and enhance the effectiveness of the existing regional forums wherein ASEAN is playing the role as the driving force. Accordingly, ASEAN will proactively push up its relations with dialogue partners under the ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, EAS, ARF, and ADMM+ frameworks to a higher level.

Leaders of ASEAN countries agreed to create a diversified regional structure for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

In addition to annual meetings with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and India during the 17^th summit, ASEAN leaders met with other partners including Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and the UN.

ASEAN also decided to upgrade its relationships with the RoK and the US to the strategic level and planned hold the third ASEAN-US Summit in 2011.

They agreed to invite the US and Russia to the East Asia Summit from 2011.

ASEAN’s external relations have seen significant development in the past year and its international status has risen. This creates a solid foundation for developming the bloc, establishing an ASEAN Community, and the maintaining of peace and security in the region.

All the leaders promised to join efforts to deal with global challenges and ensure sustainable development.

During the Summit, delegates also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern.