ASEAN leaders agree to strengthen capacity, institutional effectiveness
Jakarta (VNA) – The 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia adopted the ASEAN Leaders’
Statement on strengthening regional capacity and institutional effectiveness on
May 10.
The statement highlighted the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter as well
as consolidation
of Community-building process, promotion of the integration process to
realise a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN Community.
It reaffirmed ASEAN leaders’ commitment and efforts to maintain ASEAN centrality, unity and relevance amidst the challenges faced
by the region and beyond.
ASEAN leaders agreed
to redouble efforts to
strengthen ASEAN’s capacity and institutional effectiveness to address current
and future challenges, and respond to crises in a timely manner, in line with the objectives of the
ASEAN SHIELD as well as harness emerging opportunities in order to accelerate
the momentum of ASEAN Community-building efforts and mitigate potential adverse
impacts towards the realisation of their vision for a peaceful, secure, stable,
inclusive, and prosperous region.
They also vowed to further strengthen ASEAN-led mechanisms and process when engaging with external partners
and in an evolving regional architecture centred on ASEAN that is open,
transparent, inclusive, and rules-based./.