ASEAN -Summit 2011 - Latest news

Culture key to build ASEAN community: Indonesian minister

In the process of building the ASEAN Community, culture can play a crucial role, an Indonesian minister said here on Thursday.

"Culture is ASEAN's common language. ASEAN countries share many similarities though differences remain. Mutual respect and understanding is the key to narrowing differences and realizing the goal of building an ASEAN community by 2015," said Marie Elka Pangestu, the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Industry at the press briefing on the underway ASEAN Fair, a cultural exhibition organized in commemoration of the 19th ASEAN Summit.

She said the ASEAN Fair was aimed to show the rich heritage of cultures of the ASEAN states and advance cultural exchanges within the region.

The ASEAN Fair was initiated by the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the first ever of its kind in ASEAN history. It has attracted about 40,000 visitors up to now, 30 percent of them are foreigners.

"We recognize that the socio-cultural pillar of the ASEAN community needs a bit of uplifting including an outreach activity to the public because the vision of ASEAN is really a people- centric ASEAN," she said.

"ASEAN summit should not be just a gathering of senior officials, but should be more engaged with the people," she added.

In 2003, ASEAN leaders co-signed a joint declaration on ASEAN cooperation, or the Bali Concord II, approving the institution of ASEAN Community and its completion by 2020, which was however speeded up to 2015. The ASEAN Community will also be constituted by three correlated pillars: security community, economic community and socio-cultural community.

ASEAN to act in unison in global matters: Indonesian FM

The ASEAN leaders adopted the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, or the Bali Concord III here on Thursday, which, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa said, would help ASEAN to act in unison in global matters.

"We have discussed at the session a broad range of issues. We have discussed regional connectivity, the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, the role of ASEAN, and exchanged views regarding international and regional issues," said Marty M. Natalegawa at a press briefing after the signing ceremony.

"Our main result is the Bali Concord III. The signing of the Concord was the start of a process where ASEAN will play an increased role at the global level. For the next ten years, there will be concrete actions and measures so that ASEAN can act in unison in global matters," he said.

"We are getting where we want to be," he added.

Earlier in the day, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his opening speech that the spirit of Bali Concord III is to have greater participation and contribution of ASEAN to achieve a more peaceful, just, democratic and prosperous world.

The Concord is part of three key outcome documents adopted Thursday that also included the Agreement of the Establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers, and the ASEAN Declaration on Unity in Diversity: Towards Strengthening the ASEAN Community adopted by ASEAN Ministers for Cultural Affairs.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, known as the Bali Concord I, was adopted in 1976, which established the rules for how member states shall engage with each other, especially agreeing not to use violence and solve disputes through peaceful means.

The Bali Concord II was adopted in 2003 that approved the institution of ASEAN Community and its completion by 2020, which was later speeded up to 2015. The ASEAN Community will consist of three correlated pillars, including the Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community.

ASEAN leaders gear up Community building

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders adopted the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, or the Bali Concord III here on Thursday, which, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa said, would help ASEAN act in unison in global matters.

"We have discussed at the session a broad range of issues. We have discussed regional connectivity, the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, the role of ASEAN, and exchanged views regarding international and regional issues," said Marty M. Natalegawa at a press briefing after the signing ceremony.

"Our main result is the Bali Concord III. The signing of the Concord was the start of a process where ASEAN will play an increased role at the global level. For the next ten years, there will be concrete actions and measures so that ASEAN can act in unison in global matters," he said.

"We are getting where we want to be," he added.

In the Concord, ASEAN leaders affirmed their commitment to adopt a more coordinated, cohesive and coherent ASEAN position on global issues of common interest and concern which would further raise ASEAN's common voice in relevant multilateral fora, and to develop an enhanced ASEAN capacity to contribute and respond to key global issues of common interest which would benefit all ASEAN member states and its peoples.

The ASEAN leaders also affirmed their pledge to bring the ASEAN common platform on global issues into reality by 2020. For this purpose, concerned Ministers will be tasked to follow up and implement the Concord with the coordinating role of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, supported by the concerned sectoral ASEAN senior officials, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, and a strengthened ASEAN Secretariat.

The Concord is part of three key outcome documents adopted Thursday that also included the Agreement of the Establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) adopted by ASEAN Foreign Ministers, and the ASEAN Declaration on Unity in Diversity -- Towards Strengthening the ASEAN Community adopted by ASEAN Ministers for Cultural Affairs.

Earlier in the day, the Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the 19th ASEAN Summit with an inaugural speech.

In the speech, the president showed condolences for the major floods that have befallen a number of ASEAN member states, and said the assistance and support extended to victims was solid indication of solidarity among ASEAN countries.

"We gather here today while the world is facing a process of changes that may have widespread impacts on humanity.. In addition to new uncertainties casting a cloud on the world economy, the world continues to be faced with fundamental problems and challenges," Yodhoyono said.

"Amidst these uncertainties, a lot of hope is pinned onto our region. History has tested and proven that ASEAN continues to mature as an association able to create stability and security in the region, elevate its economic strength as well as becoming an increasingly people-centered community," he added.

"I believe ASEAN will be able to contribute in responding to these diverse global dynamics," he stressed.

The president also underlined five main points to be addressed in the coming days, including taking concrete steps to strengthen the three pillars of the ASEAN Community and implement the relevant action plans, fostering economic growth to make ASEAN region more resilient to global volatility, taking on a leading role in designing a more efficient and effective architecture of regional cooperation, maintaining the stability and security of the Southeast Asian and East Asian region, strengthening the role ASEAN globally.

The 19th ASEAN Summit with the theme of "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations" kicked off on Thursday, gathering heads of state or government from 10 ASEAN member states.

The 14th ASEAN Plus Three, ASEAN Plus One Summits and 6th East Asia Summit will be held in the coming two days in Nusa Dua Bali, Indonesia.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Chinese premier meets Indonesian president on ASEAN related summits

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed that the upcoming ASEAN summits and its partners should not focus on disputed political and security issues.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the remarks during their meeting after Wen's arrival in Bali, a tourist resort in Indonesia, which currently holds the ASEAN rotating presidency, on Thursday.

"In such a complicated and serious international political and economic situation, the upcoming summits should highlight the theme of unity, development and cooperation," said Wen, referring to the 14th summit between China and the ASEAN (10+1) as well as the 14th summit between ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) (10+3) and the sixth East Asia Summit scheduled for Nov. 17-21.

Wen stressed that the meetings should uphold the leading role of ASEAN, strengthen the cohesion and motive power of the mechanisms of 10+3 and 10+1,and avoid all interference so as to make the meetings advance towards a fixed direction and goals.

"It is of great importance for east Asia to realize sustainable economic development, improve people's livelihood and maintain stability," Wen said.

The premier said he hoped new members of the east Asian summit would inject new vitality into the east Asian cooperation. He also called on the summit, a strategic forum led by state leaders, to continue to proceed in the selected direction and cooperation areas, and to play a positive role in promoting regional economic and social development as well as maintaining the momentum of peaceful cooperation.

Wen's remarks were echoed by the Indonesian president, who said east Asia should shoulder the responsibility of promoting regional and world economic growth and become a driving force in the face of the global economic difficulties.

All members of the east Asian summit need to stick to the summit's principles and make joint efforts to maintain the overall situation of peace and cooperation so as to ensure that the summit will advance in the right direction, he said.

The president said ASEAN is not in favor of discussions on specific political and security issues at the summit.

Wen and the president also discussed the China-Indonesia relationship and pledged to make joint efforts for its further development.

Wen said China attached great importance to the infrastructure construction and industrial development of Indonesia's six economic corridors, and will encourage Chinese financial institutes to provide financial supports.

He also called on the two countries to further expand cooperation in areas of oil and natural gas, coal, electric power, new energy and renewable energy.

The two countries should establish a joint committee on maritime cooperation at an early date and strengthen cooperation with their maritime cooperation funds, he said.

The premier pledged that China will make close coordination with Indonesia to jointly promote east Asian cooperation and the China-Indonesia strategic partnership.

Appreciating China's support for the construction of its six economic corridors, Yudhoyono pledged concerted efforts with China to promote cooperation in energy, industry, defense as well as in the maritime area.

The Chinese premier arrived here Thursday to attend a series of meetings for East Asian leaders.

Wen will attend the 14th summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), commemorating the 20th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue, as well as the 14th summit between ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea and the sixth East Asia Summit.

Launched in 2005, the 18-member east Asian summit, includes ten ASEAN countries, China, Japan, ROK, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

Backgrounder: ASEAN Plus Three cooperation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Friday.

The ASEAN Plus Three (APT) refers to a regional process involving the ten ASEAN countries and three Northeast Asian countries including China, Japan, and South Korea.

As suggested by its name, this emerging regional process is driven by the ASEAN, which was founded in 1967.

APT meetings take place around the annual ASEAN meetings, where leaders of ASEAN members, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, will meet with their counterparts from the three countries.

The first APT summit was held in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997, coming at a very important time when all countries in the region were facing an economic setback. The financial crisis was regarded as having provided the impetus for this summit.

Nowadays, the APT has developed into one of the most important mechanisms aiming at strengthening and deepening East Asia cooperation at various levels and in various areas, particularly in economic, social and political areas.

There are 65 mechanisms, including 1 summit, 17 ministerial, 23 Senior Officials, 1 Directors General, 17 technical level meetings and 6 other track meetings, coordinating APT cooperation.

Along with the implementation of APT, the ASEAN also set up dialogue with China, Japan and South Korea respectively.

Also on Friday, Premier Wen will attend the 14th ASEAN Plus One summit.

Within the framework of ASEAN plus one, great emphasis has been put on cooperation in the sectors of agriculture and the information and communication industry, human resources development, mutual investment and the development of the Mekong River Basin.

Luo Yuan

Xinhua

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