VietNamNet Bridge – ASEAN needs to continue to unify to ensure peace, security and development in the region, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

 

Leaders of ASEAN countries hold a meeting yesterday in the framework of the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. 

 

Speaking at the 22nd ASEAN summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, which ended yesterday, April, 25, Dung said more co-operation was needed to cope with the global economic crisis, natural disasters, climate change, maritime security and epidemics.

He said ASEAN should make the best use of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), the Declaration on the East Asia Summit on principles for mutually beneficial relations, the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the PM proposed the association raise a united voice for peace, stability, maritime security and safety.

He noted the effective implementation of commitments and agreements such as the Declaration on Six-point Principles on the East Sea, and the ASEAN-China joint statement on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Conduct, the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures, the respect of international law - especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) - and the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Affirming Viet Nam's support for Thailand as the coordinator in the ASEAN and China dialogue relations, Dung said the two sides needed to accelerate negotiations.

Dung's views were shared by other ASEAN leaders, who agreed that the East Sea issue was a matter of concern for the entire organisation as it related to peace and security in the region.

ASEAN leaders also expressed satisfaction at the progress towards setting up an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of 2015.
However, ASEAN member countries need to make greater efforts to realise the goal, according to the Chairman's statement at the Summit.

The statement said 77.57 percent of the AEC Blueprint had been implemented to date.
The leaders agreed to enhance ASEAN's competitiveness by facilitating trade and investment, leveraging upon on-going work to establish the AEC.

They also recommended rolling out a roadmap of initiatives to simplify ways of doing business and addressing investment impediments in the region.

Filipino Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said ASEAN had already achieved about three quarters of its targets relating to the goal of a single-market since it began the process in 2007.

But he also said many challenges were ahead, including a framework to open up the services sector within ASEAN, which includes banking, insurance, telecommunications and retail.
On trade, Domingo said agriculture was among the most difficult sectors to fully liberalise.

Official statistics show that since the adoption of the blueprint in November 2007, per capita income in the region has risen from US$2,267 to $3,759 a year.

Source: VNS