Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who is also chair of ASEAN 2010, delivered a speech at the opening of the 16th ASEAN Summit at Hanoi’s National Convention Centre on April 8.
The Summit , themed “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”, draws the participation of leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretary General and representatives of inter-governmental agencies, diplomatic corps and international organisations in Hanoi and from Vietnam ’s ministries and agencies.
PM Dung said “After more than four decades of existence and development, ASEAN today has become a closely-integrated political and economic entity, an important player in the region and an indispensable partner of major countries and organisations in the world. The Association has entered a new stage of development, steadily moving towards the realisation of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and operating on a legal foundation as provided for by the ASEAN Charter.
“The year 2010 is of great significance to ASEAN as it offers intertwining opportunities and challenges. While we are optimistic about the recovery of the regional and global economies, particularly encouraging recovery of the ASEAN economies, a full recovery and sustainable development will require more time and unceasing efforts, especially appropriate directions and sound solutions. At the same time, global challenges, particularly climate change, natural disasters and pandemics continue to exert increasingly adverse impacts on ASEAN, calling for our stronger efforts and effective response at national, regional and international levels. The fast-changing and complicated situation in the world, especially the adjustment of policies and relations amongst the major powers, certainly has implications for regional environment. Yet, they also present new opportunities for ASEAN to promote its important role in ensuring peace, security, cooperation and development in the region. Against such a background, I believe ASEAN must not only strengthen its unity and cooperation, but also overcome its own limitations, so as to realise the goal of building an ASEAN Community and maintaining the Association’s centrality.”
PM Dung emphasised that “the most important thing for us now is to join hands in action, undertake concrete steps and measures to accomplish the set goals and plans. The overall theme for the year 2010 - ‘Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action’ - underlines ASEAN’s focus and strong sense of action for this year and beyond.
“This 16th ASEAN Summit, thus, carries an important mandate of setting forth the directions and appropriate solutions to accelerate ASEAN integration and enhance its strength in effectively addressing regional issues as well as global challenges.”
In this spirit, PM Dung proposed all ASEAN members discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for the ASEAN Community, accelerate ASEAN economic integration and working out a suitable model for sustainable economic development, and enhance East Asian economic and financial cooperation, wherein ASEAN plays a central role and actively contributes to the common efforts of the international community through the promotion of global solutions.
He also suggested ASEAN member countries pay more attention to trans-national issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, natural disasters and pandemics that now pose a permanent and direct threat to the livelihood of our people as well as the sustainable development of each country.
“ASEAN should continue to build upon these achievements and maintain an important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation for the sake of peace and stability in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific at large,” he said.
“The Association should further consolidate external relations, to mobilise support for the ASEAN Community building and enhance its international role and position,” he added.
He went on to confirm that “Viet Nam is an inseparable part of the ASEAN family and continues to participate in ASEAN cooperation in a proactive and responsible manner to contribute to building a stronger and more closely integrated ASEAN. During our Chairmanship in 2010, we will do our utmost and collaborate with other members to achieve concrete results in building the ASEAN Community and properly addressing emerging issues.”
The PM expressed his hope that ASEAN nations would have in-depth, substantive and fruitful discussions on directions and concrete measures to achieve the priorities of 2010.
Following PM Dung’s address was a special performance programme which reflected ASEAN’s diverse cultures.
After the opening ceremony, ASEAN leaders conducted a plenary meeting.
Under the theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action”, Vietnam will join other bloc members to promote the grouping’s role and international position through consolidating and maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the region, and further expanding ASEAN’s role at international and regional institutions and forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20).
The top priority for the summit’s discussions is to promote the bloc’s solidarity and cooperation along with regional connectivity to build the ASEAN community, bring the ASEAN Charter into reality and further expand and increase all-around cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.
It also aims to consolidate and maintain ASEAN’s important role within the framework of regional cooperation to contribute to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region./.
The Summit , themed “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”, draws the participation of leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretary General and representatives of inter-governmental agencies, diplomatic corps and international organisations in Hanoi and from Vietnam ’s ministries and agencies.
PM Dung said “After more than four decades of existence and development, ASEAN today has become a closely-integrated political and economic entity, an important player in the region and an indispensable partner of major countries and organisations in the world. The Association has entered a new stage of development, steadily moving towards the realisation of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and operating on a legal foundation as provided for by the ASEAN Charter.
“The year 2010 is of great significance to ASEAN as it offers intertwining opportunities and challenges. While we are optimistic about the recovery of the regional and global economies, particularly encouraging recovery of the ASEAN economies, a full recovery and sustainable development will require more time and unceasing efforts, especially appropriate directions and sound solutions. At the same time, global challenges, particularly climate change, natural disasters and pandemics continue to exert increasingly adverse impacts on ASEAN, calling for our stronger efforts and effective response at national, regional and international levels. The fast-changing and complicated situation in the world, especially the adjustment of policies and relations amongst the major powers, certainly has implications for regional environment. Yet, they also present new opportunities for ASEAN to promote its important role in ensuring peace, security, cooperation and development in the region. Against such a background, I believe ASEAN must not only strengthen its unity and cooperation, but also overcome its own limitations, so as to realise the goal of building an ASEAN Community and maintaining the Association’s centrality.”
PM Dung emphasised that “the most important thing for us now is to join hands in action, undertake concrete steps and measures to accomplish the set goals and plans. The overall theme for the year 2010 - ‘Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action’ - underlines ASEAN’s focus and strong sense of action for this year and beyond.
“This 16th ASEAN Summit, thus, carries an important mandate of setting forth the directions and appropriate solutions to accelerate ASEAN integration and enhance its strength in effectively addressing regional issues as well as global challenges.”
In this spirit, PM Dung proposed all ASEAN members discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for the ASEAN Community, accelerate ASEAN economic integration and working out a suitable model for sustainable economic development, and enhance East Asian economic and financial cooperation, wherein ASEAN plays a central role and actively contributes to the common efforts of the international community through the promotion of global solutions.
He also suggested ASEAN member countries pay more attention to trans-national issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, natural disasters and pandemics that now pose a permanent and direct threat to the livelihood of our people as well as the sustainable development of each country.
“ASEAN should continue to build upon these achievements and maintain an important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation for the sake of peace and stability in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific at large,” he said.
“The Association should further consolidate external relations, to mobilise support for the ASEAN Community building and enhance its international role and position,” he added.
He went on to confirm that “Viet Nam is an inseparable part of the ASEAN family and continues to participate in ASEAN cooperation in a proactive and responsible manner to contribute to building a stronger and more closely integrated ASEAN. During our Chairmanship in 2010, we will do our utmost and collaborate with other members to achieve concrete results in building the ASEAN Community and properly addressing emerging issues.”
The PM expressed his hope that ASEAN nations would have in-depth, substantive and fruitful discussions on directions and concrete measures to achieve the priorities of 2010.
Following PM Dung’s address was a special performance programme which reflected ASEAN’s diverse cultures.
After the opening ceremony, ASEAN leaders conducted a plenary meeting.
Under the theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action”, Vietnam will join other bloc members to promote the grouping’s role and international position through consolidating and maintaining ASEAN’s central role in the region, and further expanding ASEAN’s role at international and regional institutions and forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20).
The top priority for the summit’s discussions is to promote the bloc’s solidarity and cooperation along with regional connectivity to build the ASEAN community, bring the ASEAN Charter into reality and further expand and increase all-around cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.
It also aims to consolidate and maintain ASEAN’s important role within the framework of regional cooperation to contribute to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region./.
