ACC completes documents for 16th ASEAN Summit

VGP – The 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) took place this morning to wrap up final preparations for the 16th ASEAN Summit, based on the outcomes of the Ministerial Meetings of the ASEAN Economic and Social-Cultural Communities.

April 08, 2010 1:43 PM GMT+7

Vietnamese Deputy PM, FM Phạm Gia Khiêm presides over the 6^th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, Hà Nội, April 8, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

The Summit is scheduled to take place on April 8-9, including major events as the opening ceremony, plenary session, working dinner and retreat session of ASEAN leaders.

During the Summit, the ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions on accelerating the realization of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community and implementation of the ASEAN Charter, promoting ASEAN connectivity, enhancing cooperation to deal with global challenges, strengthening ASEAN’s external relations and role, exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern.

Right before the opening ceremony, the ASEAN leaders will tentatively have their first ever official meeting with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to discuss the promotion of ASEAN-AIPA cooperation as well as their contribution to the ASEAN Community building process.

Regarding the list of outcome documents of the 16^th ASEAN Summit, the ACC reviewed and adopted the two draft Statements on Recovery and Sustained Development, and on Joint Response to Climate Change.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the 6^thMeeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, Hà Nội, April 8, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

The ACC also adopted documents submitted by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), including the Draft Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Anthem, Name and Emblem; Draft ASEAN Secretariat Financial Rules and Procedure.

They agreed on the ASEAN Communication Strategy and took note the First Report of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on ASEAN Connectivity, which would be submitted to ASEAN leaders for consideration.

The ASEAN Charter provides that the ACC serves as the main body that coordinates preparations for the ASEAN Summit.

After the ACC meeting, the ASEAN FMs signed the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms, which is an important step toward the completion of the legal framework laid down by the Charter.

By Hải Minh