16th ASEAN Summit wraps up in Hà Nội

VGP – The 16th ASEAN Summit, the first one held in 2010, was wrapped up this morning in Hà Nội with adoption of the ASEAN Statement on Sustained Recovery and Development and the ASEAN Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change. These documents set important orientations for the bloc’s cooperation in 2010.

April 09, 2010 4:30 PM GMT+7

The Retreat Session of the 16^th ASEAN Summit, Hà Nội, April 9, 2020 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

At the plenary session yesterday and the retreat session today, leaders of ASEAN member states discussed key issues, namely the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and building of the ASEAN Community; joint response to the global issues; and enhancing ASEAN’s role and position in the regional and international arena.

Key documents approved by the 16^th ASEAN Summit

- ASEAN Statement on Sustained Recovery and Development

- ASEAN Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change

- Chairman’s Statement of the 16^th ASEAN Summit “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action”

ASEAN’s leaders reiterated their determination to fruitfully realize the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community and early put the ASEAN Charter into reality.

The leaders focused their discussions on economic recovery and sustained development and issued a Statement on the topic. The Statement pointed out many orientations and solutions for ASEAN cooperation, especially through speeding up economic linkages, combining economic growth and environment protection, social welfare, education and human resource development, and promoting East Asian economic-financial cooperation for sustainable growth.

The ASEAN member states also committed to conducting the ASEAN Connectivity to lay the foundation for closer economic linkages and the Community building.

ASEAN’s leaders took this occasion to talk about effective cooperation in response to global challenges, especially climate change.

According to the newly-adopted Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change, ASEAN will merge action plans of regional countries while making positive contribution to the global joint efforts for the birth of an international binding agreement on fighting climate change.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng addresses the retreat session of the 16^th ASEAN Summit, Hà Nội, April 9, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

ASEAN’s leaders were unanimous in strengthening the bloc’s centrality and reinforcing ties with its partners within ASEAN 1, ASEAN 3, East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The Association will consider specific ways for Russia and the US to take part in regional mechanisms. The leaders also agreed to open the ASEAN 8 Defense Ministers’ Meeting in order to enhance defense and security cooperation between the bloc and other partners.

Underlining the need to share stances within ASEAN about regional and global issues on international forums, ASEAN’s leaders advocated Việt Nam, as the ASEAN Chair in 2010, to partake in the G20 Summit this year.

Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng presides over the international press conference at the 16^th ASEAN Summit, Hà Nội, April 9, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

As the Chairman of the 16^th ASEAN Summit, Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng presided over a press conference following the Summit in order introduce outcomes of the event.

He revealed that ASEAN leaders discussed numerous issues relating to the Mekong Sub-region’s development region, such as infrastructure connectivity, sustainable growth, environment protection, and combating climate change.

In response to question about the East Sea, the Vietnamese PM highlighted that ASEAN member states and regional countries have common benefits in maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea.

Mr. Dũng was convinced that on the basis of goodwill for regional common interests, all related parties would strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the UN Convention on the Law of Sea 1982.

Some features of the 16^th ASEAN Summit in Việt Nam

- For the first time, ASEAN’s leaders met representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to reinforce ties between executive and legislative branches.

- Foreign Ministers inked the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms.

- The 14^th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting held in the coastal city of Nha Trang on April 8 agreed to establish the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund and committed to setting up the Credit Guarantee Insurance Fund (CGIF) in May 2010.

- Socio-cultural Ministers inaugurated the ASEAN Commission on Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).

By Kim Anh