Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva delivered the opening speech at the 42 nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Phuket, Thailand, on July 20.

PM Abhisit expressed his delight at the spirit of solidarity and harmony amongst ASEAN member countries, and stated it was a key factor for them to overcome the difficulties arising from the global financial crisis.

He urged all ASEAN members to use the ASEAN Charter to bring about concrete action to set up the ASEAN Community by 2015.

The Thai PM took the occasion to call for further cooperation among the bloc and its partners to cope with global challenges such as the impacts of the global financial and economic crisis, pandemics and natural disasters as well as energy and food security issues.

PM Abhisit said that he hoped the ASEAN Community would become a regional “community of action, connectivity and peoples” in 2015 for security and in the interests of all ASEAN members.

The community’s spirit facilitates not only the enhancement of cooperation, investment and cultural exchanges between its members but also contributes to building and promoting the image of an ASEAN of harmony and unity in diversity, peace and prosperity, the Thai PM said.

ASEAN must show the world that it is ready to meet both internal and external challenges and be well-prepared to act decisively when faced with any difficulties, he added.

The 42 nd AMM is set to discuss anti-terrorism measures, the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body and a mechanism to solve disputes between ASEAN members.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met with his ASEAN counterparts at the meeting.

The ASEAN grouping includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.